Anatomical variants of the renal veins

Abstract

Introduction: The venous drainage of the kidneys is produced beginning from the renal veins that are classically described as unique trunks draining in the lateral walls of the inferior vena cava.
Objetive: determining the morphological characteristics of the renal veins.
Materials and Methods: A quantitative, longitudinal, prospective, observational and descriptive study was carried out in 47 blocks, coming from dead bodies without aorta-renal arterial-venous surgeries, aortic aneurismal disease nor demonstrable reno-ureteral congenital malformations, in the Teaching Surgical-Clinical Provincial Hospital Celia Sanchez Manduley, of Manzanillo, province of Granma. The blocks were washed, fixed and dissected using the direct macroscopic method.
Results: the renal veins were unique in 61.7 % (18 blocks) of the blocks, being more constants in the left side (87.23 %). The course was pre-arterial in 88.18 % of the veins, being this course more frequent in the left side (66.03 %). The union to the inferior vena cava was in the lateral side in 95.46 % of the veins, being this union more constant in the left side (98.11 %).
Conclusions: the renal veins have a low pattern of anatomical variability. The variants of the anatomical norm were more frequent in the right side, being its knowledge important in the process of planning the exeretic and nephro-urologic reconstructive surgery.