Abnormal features of the sub renal portion of the inferior vena cava]

to determine the frequency of the abnormal anatomical features affecting the inferior vena cava (IVC).we performed 161 dissections of the ICV on fresh (145) or formaldehyde-injected (16) cadavers. There were 86 men and 75 women.we found two abnormalities of the IVC: one left IVC in a woman and one double IVC in a man. These malformations can be explained by the embryology of the IVC.the frequency of abnormalities of the IVC is highly variable according to the studies: Richardson (1983) found 3% for the duplication of the IVC. Other malformations have been reported: double IVC, left IVC or right IVC with azygos prolongation. We never observed such associations in our study. Left IVC could be explained by the development of the left supra-cardinal vein and by that of the left sub-cardinal and intercardinal anastomoses. Double IVC corresponds either to the development of the left supra-cardinal vein or to the persistence of the left cardinal vein or the left sub-cardinal vein.abnormalities of the ICV dysplay different anatomical features due to the complexity of the embryogenesis of this vessel; their frequency is far from being rare. Unknowing these abnormalities could lead to severe haemorrhages during surgical interventions on the retroperitoneal, cardiac or oesophageal regions.