European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 23 - Number 6
Eur J Anat, 23 (6): 459-463 (2019)

A complete situs inversus viscerum with hepatic, intestinal and renalvascular anomalies: one case report and review of the literatur

Olaf Bahlmann1, Christof Schomerus2, Estifanos Ghebremedhin3

1Institute of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie, Institute for Anatomy III, GoetheUniversity, Frankfurt, Germany, 2Institute for Experimental Neurobiology, Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie, Institute for Anatomy II, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 3Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Dr. Senckenbergische Anato-mie, Institute for Anatomy I, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany

ABSTRACT Situs inversus viscerum (SIV) is a rare congenital anomaly, which is still an intriguing phenomenon to anatomists and physicians alike. A complete SIV is characterized by a left-right transposition and mir-ror image of all thoraco-abdominal organs and their vasculature. The present report is based on one case with complete SIV, which was observed during the routine educational dissections of ca-davers in the authorsâ?? Anatomy Department. A transposition of all truncal organs and their vascu-lature, and several variations of arteries and veins were present. The right branch of the proper he-patic artery was replaced by an artery that emanat-ed from the superior mesenteric artery. The latter also released the inferior mesenteric artery. Addi-tionally, a left accessory renal artery ran anterior to the inferior caval vein and posterior to the ureter to enter the hilum of the left kidney. There was also a variation in the anterior-posterior arrangement of the hilar structures of the left kidney. Additionally, a globally enlarged heart with coronary artery by-passes, a replaced aortic valve and an aortic arch aneurysm was observed. This case report is unique, as it presents a previously unreported co-incidence of SIV and hepatic, intestinal and renal vascular anomalies. It is important for the surgeon to be aware of such variations while planning an abdominal surgery in patients with SIV.

Keywords: Anatomy â?? Dissection â?? Situs inver-sus viscerum â?? Hepatic artery â?? Mesenteric arter-ies â?? Renal artery

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)