3-II. Isolating the renal artery A. Kutikov, Randall Lee, Benjamin Ristau

Isolating the Renal Artery

• For left-sided tumors, the psoas muscle can be followed to the para-aortic nodes. Dissection then needs to “jump over” the nodes in order to find the renal artery and avoid dissecting behind the aorta.
• For right-sided tumors, the psaos muscle should be followed carefully to the site of pulsation where the renal artery can be found behind the vena cava
• Visualization of pulsations should be used to help localize the renal artery.
• Adequate tissue tension using the 3rd arm Prograsp and another arm when necessary is key to an effective dissection. Hand-over hand technique may be required as the dissection is carried out medially toward the great vessels.