Bilateral aberrant renal arteries with abnormal left renal vein: a case report.

Renal arteries are a pair of lateral branches which arise from abdominal aorta, just below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery (sma), at L2 level. The right one is longer, on account of position of aorta and left is a little higher in its origin. Variations in renal arteries are highly common and such variations may differ in number, mode of origin, branching, course and termination. Extra renal arteries (ERA) are broadly divided into two types- The aberrant (polar) ones are those which supply the kidney (poles) without passing through hilum, whereas the accessory (hilar) ones are those which supply the kidney after passing through hilum. The renal veins are of large size, which are located anterior to arteries and they open into inferior vena cava at right angles. The left is thrice in length than right one and it passes in front of abdominal aorta to join inferior vena cava (IVC). In view of constantly increasing renal transplantations and kidney retrieval surgeries, the variations in renal vasculature are valuable. Anomalies of renal veins are rarely encountered. Abnormal renal vessels are of interest to the medical and surgical personnel, because of the wide spectrum of diseases which are associated with kidney, like hydronephrosis, left renal vein hypertension, retro peritoneal tumours and surgeries, particularly renal transplantations.