Abstract
In order to analyze the number and length of the renal arteries and to evaluate abnormalities of the renalparenchyme and vessel, digital subtraction angiogram images of 105 potential renal donors(45 men and 60 women aged 17-66 years) were studied retrospectively. For the entire series, 31 donors had multiple renal arteries on one side(15 on the left, 11 on the right) and 5 donors on the both sided, 89 donors were family related either parents of siblings of recipients. The estimation of the length of the renal artery was based on the mean height of recipients. The estimation of the length of the renal artery was based on the mean height of the second lumbarvertebral body (L2). The right renal artery is significantly longer than on the left and measured more than the height of L2 vertebal body in 84 cases on the right and 60 cases on the left. Twenty two donors underwent right nephrectomy due to presence of multiple renal arteries on the left (N=14), proximal bifurcation of left main renalartery (n=3), and young females in reproductime age (N=5), Unexpected abnormalities found with angiogram were seenin 7 cases ad they included renal artery stenosis (n=2), renal cysts (N=4) and focal infarction (N=1). In cases ofthe renal cysts and focal infarcation, there were no serious complications related to the abnomalities, It is concluded that intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography is safe and efficient method to image renal anatomy of the potential renal donors.