Successful Endovascular Treatment of a Spontaneous Rupture of the Ascending Lumbar Vein: A Case Report

Although there have been a few case reports of spontaneous rupture of pelvic veins, such as the iliac vein, to date, there have been no reports of spontaneous rupture of the ascending lumbar vein. Here, we report a case of spontaneous rupture of the ascending lumbar vein for the first time. A 66-year-old woman visited the emergency department due to the swelling of the left lower limb for 2 hours. After admission, the patient developed symptoms of pain in the left lumbar region, as well as symptoms of shock, such as increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. During emergency venography, it was found that the ascending lumbar vein was ruptured, which was accompanied by the compression and occlusion of the iliac vein (May-Thurner syndrome). During the endovascular surgical treatment, a covered stent was placed in the iliac vein, and the occluded common iliac vein was treated with a bare stent. Immediately after the surgical procedure, the patient’s abdominal computed tomography examination showed the formation of a large retroperitoneal haematoma, and continuous routine blood parameter monitoring showed that haemoglobin was stable. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the ninth postoperative day.

Not so fast with the filter! Is it really in the inferior vena cava?

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement can lead to rare but sometimes serious complications, including malposition of the IVC filter in a non-target vessel or organ. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who presented to our institution for a percutaneous nephrostomy tube change and was incidentally found to have two IVC filters, one of which was properly positioned in the IVC and one of which was improperly deployed in the right ascending lumbar vein. Venography through the sheath before filter loading and deployment decreases the risk of malpositioning the IVC filter.

Aneurysm of the communicating vein between the left renal vein and left ascending lumbar vein mimicking a retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy: A case report

Introduction: Aneurysm of the communicating vein between the left renal vein and left ascending lumbar vein is extremely rare with only anecdotal reported cases. Unless detected and recognized promptly, this rare condition may give rise to severe bleeding in patients undergoing retroperitoneal surgery. It may also closely mimic enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes, paragangliomas, adrenal masses, or renal artery aneurysms. Case report: In this case study, we reported the imaging findings of this rare entity which was falsely diagnosed as enlarged retroperitoneal lymph node in an outside medical center, reported as to be consistent with metastatic disease, in a patient with newly diagnosed testicular cancer. Conclusion: The aneurysm of the communicating vein should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with testicular cancer and other disease processes where lymph nodes are commonly affected.

Left renal vein entrapment syndrome: nutcracker syndrome!

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a rare vascular compression disorder that involves compression of the left renal vein most commonly between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), although variations exist. It is associated with the formation of the left renal vein from the aortic collar during the 6th–8th week of gestation and abnormal angulation of the SMA from the aorta. Collateralisation of venous circulation including mainly the left gonadal vein and the communicating lumbar vein are the most significant effects. It has a female predilection occurring in the third to fourth decade and it tends to be diagnosed earlier in men. Affected individuals may present with a myriad of symptoms such as haematuria, left flank pain and proteinuria. As patients often present with these non-specific symptoms to primary care, knowledge of NCS is essential. The diagnosis can be rendered with Doppler ultrasonography, retrograde venography, CT angiography, intravascular ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography. The authors describe the case of a 39-year-old woman with a low body mass index (BMI) presenting with generalised abdominal and flank pain as well as chronic microcytic anaemia. Physical examination findings were suggestive of biliary or renal colic. Laboratory investigations confirmed her anaemia (haemoglobin 88 g/L, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 72 fL), but were otherwise unremarkable. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and haematuria. However, ultrasonography was unremarkable with a normal gallbladder and no evidence of calculi. Her CT scan showed marked compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the SMA (nutcracker phenomenon), with upstream left renal, left gonadal and left lumbar vein dilatation. She was managed conservatively. This paper provides an overview of the aetiology, embryology, clinical manifestations, imaging modalities and management of NCS.

Multiple variations of azygos system of veins: a case report

Azygos venous system drains the venous blood from thoracic wall. Knowledge of variations of its course and tributaries is important to cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. We observed the following variations in the azygos veins. Both azygos and hemiazygos veins were formed by union of lumbar azygos and subcostal veins of corresponding sides. The ascending lumbar vein did not drain into the azygos system. The hemiazygos vein had a larger diameter than the lower part of azygos vein and it joined azygos vein at the level of seventh thoracic vertebra. Accessory hemiazygos vein was totally absent. The azygos vein received 4th to 11th right posterior intercostal veins and also received 3rd to 6th left posterior intercostal veins. Hemiazygos vein received 7th to 11th left posterior intercostal veins.

What Each Clinical Anatomist Has to Know about Left Renal Vein Entrapment Syndrome (Nutcracker Syndrome): A Review of the Most Important Findings

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is the most common term for compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta. The development of NCS is associated with the formation of the left renal vein (LRV) from the aortic collar during the sixth to eighth week of gestation and abnormal angulation of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta. Collateralization of venous circulation is the most significant effect of NCS. It includes mainly the left gonadal vein and the communicating lumbar vein. Undiagnosed NCS may affect retroperitoneal surgery and other radiological and vascular procedures. The clinical symptoms of NCS may generally be described as renal presentation when symptoms like haematuria, left flank pain, and proteinuria occur, but urologic presentation is also possible. Radiological methods of confirming NCS include Doppler ultrasonography as a primary test, retrograde venography, which can measure the renocaval pressure gradient, computed tomography angiography, which is faster and less traumatic, intravascular ultrasound, and magnetic resonance angiography. Treatment can be conservative or surgical, depending on the severity of symptoms and degree of LRV occlusion. Nutcracker syndrome is worth considering especially in differential diagnosis of haematuria of unknown origin.