Morphological Variations in Renal Artery in Cadavers in Solapur, Maharashtra: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Each kidney has a single renal artery. The kidney receives about 20% of the cardiac output. Renal artery variations are a common entity that becomes an important consideration while performing renal surgeries. Aim: To study the variability of the renal arteries concerning emergence, diameter, and length. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy of VMGMC, Solapur, Maharashtra, India for three years, from August 2012 to September 2015. The pattern of the renal artery in humans were studied for emergence, length, and it’s branching by dissection method in 75 human cadavers. A thorough dissection of these specimens were done by routine dissection instruments. Statistical analysis of specimens of both sides were carried out by Epi info 7.2.5.0. Unpaired t-test was applied and p-value was derived for the length and diameter of the artery. Results: Right renal artery 37 (49.4%) had proximal origin in relation to the left renal artery in a greater number of specimens. Average distance between the superior mesenteric and the left renal artery was 11.03±4.8 mm. The average diameter of right renal artery was 6.65±1.6 mm. The average length of the Right Renal Artery (RRA) 39.5±11.8 mm was significantly greater than Left Renal Artery (LRA) 30.7±12.6 mm, p-value <0.01. In 10 (13.3%) specimens length of LRA without ramification was 45.1- 60 mm. Conclusion: Morphology and morphometric knowledge about renal artery help the surgeons to reduce mortality and lead to the successful outcomes of laparoscopic, retroperitoneal, renal transplantation surgeries and various interventional procedures.