Horseshoe kidney: a review article

Horseshoe kidney is a rare non-fatal congenital malformation of renal development. It usually remains asymptomatic and in many cases it is discovered incidentally. This anomaly is found twice as often in men than in women. The present report, horseshoe kidney was discovered in 62-year-old male cadaver during routine dissection. The inferior poles of the kidneys were fused to form a parenchymatous isthmus, resulting in a horseshoe kidney. The horseshoe kidney was located anterior to the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava at a level lower than the normal kidney. Both renal hila were directed anteriorly and the ureters which drained from each renal pelvis descended anterior to the isthmus to enter the urinary bladder normally. There were 3 renal arteries, 1 on the right and 2 on the left. The inferior vena cava was behind the isthmus and the lower pole of the right kidney. Two renal veins opened independently into the inferior vena cava. It is important to be aware of this renal anomaly in clinical practice, especially during renal surgeries, renal transplants, or surgical and endovascular procedures on the aorta

A study of renal artery variations in cadavers

Objectives: To know the variations of renal artery in human cadavers and to report the incidence. Methods: The study was performed on 32 cadaveric kidneys over 4 years. The posterior abdominal wall was dissected to study the paired kidneys. Results: The following parameters were observed. The number of renal arteries supplying each kidney, single in 88%, double in 12%, the level of origin of renal arteries (RA), Right RA higher origin in 75%, Left RA higher origin in 15%, both right and left RA origin at same level in 10%. Branching of RA, Hilar in 67%, Prehilar in 33%. The prevalence of accessory renal arteries (ARA) in the present study is 28%.The percentage of unilateral ARA in the present study is 15.67% and of bilateral ARA is 6.2%. Percentage of origin of ARA from aorta is 15.6%, from main renal artery is 7.8%. Conclusion: Anatomical knowledge of the vascular variations is essential for the clinician to perform procedures such as renal transplantation, renal vascular operations more safely and efficiently