Anatomical variation of the posterior lumbar tributaries of the left renal vein in retroperitoneoscopic left living donor nephrectomy

Objectives: To increase awareness of the anatomical variation of the posterior lumbar tributaries of the left renal vein in retroperitoneoscopic left living donor nephrectomy. Methods: A total of 61 cases of retroperitoneoscopic left living donor nephrectomy were carried out from March 2008 to June 2010. The anatomical variations of the posterior lumbar tributaries of the left renal vein in these patients were noted. Results: According to the variation of posterior lumbar tributaries, there were seven types in total, including five main types (accounts for 95.1%, 58/61 cases) and the type of reno‐hemi‐azygo‐lumbar trunk (AZV; accounts for 16.4%, 10/61 cases). According to the number of posterior lumbar tributaries, no lumbar vein covers accounted for 16.4% (10/61 cases), one lumbar vein accounted for 47.5% (29/61 cases), two lumbar veins accounted for 32.8% (20/61 cases) and three lumbar veins accounted 3.3% (2/61 cases). According to the operation time during the process of managing posterior lumbar veins, it was type 4 (AZV) on which the surgeon spent the most time (P < 0.05), and type 5 (no lumbar vein) on which the surgeon spent the least time (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This is the first report of the anatomical variation of the posterior lumbar tributaries of the left renal vein in retroperitoneal laparoscopic left living donor nephrectomy. Detailed knowledge of these anatomical variations will undoubtedly help surgeons to avoid the potential risk of vein damage during nephrectomy and to obtain a longer renal artery for the following renal transplantation.