Duplication of the inferior vena cava - An anatomical case report with comments on embryological background and clinical implications

Inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies rarely occur in the population, although the double vena cava presented is the most common among them. Typically, the posterior cardinal veins undergo regression, whereas the subcardinal veins join to form the suprarenal part of the vena cava (above renal arteries). The supracardinal veins connect to the inferior infrarenal vena cava (under renal arteries). If the veins are separated and do not form a common vein trunk, the double IVC develops. Double IVC is usually asymptomatic as it is discovered mainly intraoperatively or incidentally in imagining tests. During routine dissection of the abdominal cavity of a female cadaver, duplication of the IVC was observed. Above the renal arteries, at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, the right and left vena cava drained into a short common trunk of the IVC. We also observed that the left renal vein opened into the left vena cava while the right renal vein drained into the common venous trunk, just above the left and right vena cava. This report shows a double IVC variant in which, during embryological development, the supracardinal veins remained separated, forming a duplication of the infrarenal IVC. Additionally, the short part of the subcardinal veins also did not connect to the common trunk. Therefore, the right and left vein junction was located above the renal arteries. Clinicians should be aware of this anomaly because knowledge of retroperitoneal space venous drainage variants allows one to avoid unforeseen severe complications during urological and gynecological procedures, which is crucial for the patient's safety. •The report aims to present the case of double IVC with a description of topographical anatomy and syntopy.•Double IVC is usually asymptomatic as it is discovered mainly intraoperatively or incidentally in imagining tests.•Knowledge of retroperitoneal space venous drainage variants allows to avoid serious complications during surgical procedures.