J Korean Soc Vasc Surg.  2007 May;23(1):32-38.

Anomaly of the Inferior Vena Cava

• Yoon SH
• Joh JH
• Kim HC
• Kim DI
• Kim YW

Abstract

PURPOSE: Anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and its tributaries develop due to embryonic error during the process involving the formation of several anastomoses between three paired embryonic veins. These anomalies have become more commonly recognized in surgical patients due to performing preoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning. The aim of this study was to report on 7 patients with various types of IVC anomaly. METHOD: Between 1996 and 2006, we encountered 7 patients with IVC anomalies at Hanil General Hospital and Samsung Medical Center. The medical records and CT scans were retrospectively reviewed. RESULT: The mean age of the patients was 56.0 years. Five patients were male and 2 patients were female. The types of IVC anomalies were left IVC in 2 patients, double IVC in 2 patients, an absent infrarenal IVC in 2 patients, and a retroaortic left renal vein in 1 patient, respectively. The associated problems were abdominal aortic aneurysm, deep vein thrombosis, aortoiliac occlusive disease, venous ulcer, retroperitoneal mass, traffic accident and renal cell carcinoma. There were no surgical complications.
CONCLUSION
IVC anomalies can have significant clinical implications. Preoperative recognition of these anomalies could reduce the complication rate during surgery.

Keyword

Inferior vena cava; Anomaly; Computed tomography; Scan

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal
Carcinoma, Renal Cell
Female
Hospitals, General
Humans
Male
Medical Records
Renal Veins
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Varicose Ulcer
Veins
Vena Cava, Inferior*
Venous Thrombosis