CT findings after left renal vein division during abdominal aortic surgery

Background: The rationale behind left renal vein division (LRVD) is the assumption that adequate collateral draining channels will develop. Purpose: To describe computed tomography (CT) findings after LRVD during aortic surgery. Material and Methods: Among 61 consecutive patients who underwent LRVD during aneurysm repair or revascularization for aortic occlusive disease between January 2003 and December 2017, 51 patients (40 men, mean age 71.4 ± 8.4 years) were enrolled. Contrast-enhanced CT images were analyzed to evaluate collateral drainage, patency, left renal vein diameter, and left renal parenchymal thickness. A total of 115 radiologic reports were reviewed to check whether these findings were accurately mentioned. Results: The median time period of the first postoperative follow-up CT was 36 days (range 7–1351 days). The gonadal vein (n = 47) was the most common collateral draining channel, followed by the retroperitoneal veins (n = 42) and adrenal vein (n = 33). Thrombosis occurred in five patients between postoperative days 7 and 17 in the remnant renal vein (n = 3), remnant renal vein plus gonadal and adrenal veins (n = 1), and gonadal vein (n = 1). There was a significant decrease in renal vein diameter (–0.48 ± 2.12 mm, P = 0.006). There was no significant difference in parenchymal thickness (−0.25 ± 1.27 mm, P = 0.193). Neither LRVD nor any associated findings were correctly stated on radiologic reports. Conclusion: Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT can delineate collateral draining channels and complications following LRVD. However, these findings tend to be either missed or misinterpreted.