Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Horseshoe Kidney

In a recent find, researchers have reported that the management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Horseshoe Kidney can be done by open surgical repair with a transperitoneal approach without a section of the isthmus and with great outcomes after surgery.

This interesting and unique case has been published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.

Horseshoe Kidney (HSK) is probably the most common of all renal fusion abnormalities. However, the association with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is rare and occurred in 0.12% of patients affected by AAA, and twice as common in men as in women according to previous studies. However, the management of AAA associated with HSK presents a special challenge during vascular surgery, given the close spatial relationship and the frequent renal arterial variation that accompanies HSK.

Therefore, the best strategy to approach in such cases remains an issue of continued debate.

"In our case, we chose the transperitoneal technique given the high angulation of the neck with no renal arteries abnormalities and also because it's the most used technique in our experiences, the outcomes were great and the patient adhered completely to the treatment and is very grateful and satisfied," says Ayoub Bounssir from the Vascular Surgery Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Souissi, Rabat, Morocco.

The patient was a 66-year-old man with a history of hypertension under Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), coronary angioplasty, and transurethral resection of bladder tumor in complete remission. Radiographical evaluation (Computed tomography) revealed an 11.2 cm infrarenal AAA associated with an HSK with a wide parenchymatous isthmus lying anterior to the aneurysm. Initially, the patient had normal renal function with a serum creatinine of 1.00 mg/dL.

"Given the highly angulated aortic neck we chose open surgery. The operation was performed through a long midline incision by our chief surgeon. The transperitoneal dissection along the Treitz ligament revealed a large aneurysm covered by the isthmus in its upper third. The dissection of the aortic neck and the individualization of renal arteries was difficult given the deflected angulated neck and the descendant trajectory of the renal arteries," describes Bounssir.

"We couldn't recognize the limits between the isthmus and the renal parenchyma so we decided to avoid the isthmus section and its related complications. Common iliac arteries were desiccated," he further added.

As a result, both common iliac arteries were free from aneurysm and calcifications, so distal anastomoses were performed. The procedure was well tolerated by the patient, with an uncomplicated postoperative course and no deterioration of renal function.

The authors further noted that "The concomitant presence of HSK and AAA presents a real challenge for the vascular surgeon imposing the mastery of the different vascular techniques both endovascular and open repair to deal correctly with this rare condition."

"The choice of the technique is still controversial and must take into consideration the degree of urgency and the anatomical abnormalities of the aneurysm and the different renal arteries. However, we believe that avoiding the isthmus section is the most important advice if open repair is preferred," they concluded.