Variations in Renal Vascular Anatomy: A Retrospective Analysis of Computed Tomographic Angiograms in Living Kidney Donors at a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Understanding renal vascular anatomy is essential for planning donor nephrectomy procedures, as vascular variations can significantly influence surgical safety and outcomes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 100 living kidney donors evaluated at a tertiary care hospital between 2020 and 2024. Each donor underwent computed tomographic (CT) angiography to assess the presence and distribution of renal arterial and venous anatomical variants. Results and Discussion: A range of vascular anomalies were identified, including accessory renal arteries, early branching of main arteries, and venous variants such as retroaortic and circumaortic renal veins. Arterial variations were observed in 38% of donors, while venous anomalies were present in 26%. These findings underscore the importance of detailed vascular mapping in the preoperative phase. CT angiography proved to be an effective tool for detecting such variations, facilitating improved surgical planning. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of individualized CT-based vascular assessment in kidney donors. Recognizing anatomical differences in advance contributes to safer nephrectomies and better transplant outcomes.