Vascular anomalies during laparoscopic renal surgery: incidence and management of left-sided inferior vena cava.
BACKGROUND
Left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) is an unusual abnormality that may be clinically significant during renal surgery.


METHODS
We report the unique case of a patient with a centrally located left renal mass who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. During the hilar dissection, unusual vascular anatomy was encountered. The patient was noted to have a left-sided inferior vena cava with multiple renal veins and anomalous tributaries. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was performed without complication.


CONCLUSIONS
The embryology of a left-sided inferior vena cava is reviewed, and the safety and feasibility of a laparoscopic approach is discussed.
UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Timothy K
TK
Byler
Grant I S
GI
Disick
Ihor S
IS
Sawczuk
Ravi
R
Munver
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*