title: Absence of Inferior Vena Cava in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.
abstract: A 27-year-old woman was admitted to our department with end-stage renal failure due to reflux nephropathy. She had no history of deep venous thrombosis. After pretransplantation evaluation, her father was accepted for kidney donation. We observed intraoperatively that the patient's iliac veins and inferior vena cava (IVC) were absent. There were many venous collaterals, but none of them was dilated enough for renal vein anastomosis. Since we could not find a suitable vein for venous drainage of the allograft, we decided to stop donor surgery and postpone renal transplantation (RT) for detailed radiologic examination. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the absence of an infrahepatic segment of IVC. Superior mesenteric vein was thin. Portal and splenic veins were normal, but we decided not to use them for venous drainage because of increased risk of torsion. We informed the patient and her family about the situation and cancelled RT. Iliac vein and IVC anomalies are not absolute contraindications for RT, but when a dilated collateral vein is not present or when there is no option for safe renal vein anastomosis as in our case, RT may not be possible.
authors.affiliation: Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Organ Transplantation Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eroğlu
authors.affiliation: Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Organ Transplantation Center, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: drturunc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turunç
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tabandeh
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oruğ
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sener
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Değer
authors.affiliation: Goztepe Medical Park Hospital, Organ Transplantation Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dheir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*