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Renal vein valves: a prevalence, microanatomical and histological study

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Abstract

Purpose

In the modern era of robotic renal procedures and diagnostics, an even more detailed anatomical understanding than hitherto is necessary. Valves of the renal veins (RVV) have been underemphasized and have been disputed by some authors, and few textbooks describe them. The current anatomical study was performed to address such shortcomings in the literature.

Methods

One hundred renal veins were studied in fifty adult formalin-fixed cadavers. Renal veins were removed from the abdomen after sectioning them flush with their entrance to the renal hilum. The inferior vena cava was then incised longitudinally and opened, and RVV were examined grossly and histologically. A classification scheme was developed and applied to our findings.

Results

Nineteen RVVs were observed in the fifty cadavers (38%). Four (8%) valves were found on right sides and fifteen (30%) on left sides. The valves were seen as cord/band-like, folds, and single and double leaflets. Histologically, they were all extensions of the tunica intima.

Conclusion

On the basis of our study, RVV are not uncommon. They were more common on left sides, and on both sides, they were found within approximately one centimeter of the junction of the inferior vena cava and renal vein. Although the function of such valves cannot be inferred from this anatomical study, the structures of the Single leaflet valve (TS2) and Double leaflet valve (TS3) valves suggest they could prevent venous reflux from the IVC into the kidney.

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Data availability

Please contact authors for data requests (Devendra Shekhawat PhD - email address: dev.pgimer@gmail.com).

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude. The authors state that every effort was made to follow all local and international ethical guidelines and laws that pertain to the use of human donated bodies in anatomical research [10].

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 South Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Devendra Shekhawat, Arada Chaiyamoon, Juan J. Cardona, Emma Lesser, Joe Iwanaga & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Mary T. Killackey & R. Shane Tubbs

  3. Departmentof Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, West Indies, Grenada

    Marios Loukas & R. Shane Tubbs

  4. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  5. Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

Authors
  1. Devendra Shekhawat
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  2. Arada Chaiyamoon
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  3. Juan J. Cardona
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  4. Emma Lesser
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  5. Joe Iwanaga
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  6. Marios Loukas
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  7. Mary T. Killackey
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  8. R. Shane Tubbs
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Contributions

Conceptualization: DS, JI,ML,RST. Data acquisition: JJC, DS, AC,EL Data analysis or interpretation: DS,RST,JI, ML. Drafting of the manuscript: DS, JJC, AC, RST. Critical revision of the manuscript: JI, MK, RST. Approval of the final version of the manuscript: all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Devendra Shekhawat.

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Ethical approval

Our institution does not require an Institutional Review Board approval of non-patient/living human studies. Thus, as our study used a cadaver, approval was not required.

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Not applicable.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The authors declare that the article content was composed in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Shekhawat, D., Chaiyamoon, A., Cardona, J.J. et al. Renal vein valves: a prevalence, microanatomical and histological study. Surg Radiol Anat 46, 535–541 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03330-z

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