Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular management in iatrogenic
renal injuries with regard to clinical status on follow-up and requirements for repeat
angiography and embolization. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients who were referred for endovascular management
of significant hemorrhage following an iatrogenic injury. Data was recorded from the
Picture Archiving and Communication system (PACS) and electronic medical records. The site and type of iatrogenic injury, imaging
findings, treatment, angiography findings, embolization performed, clinical status
on follow-up, and requirement for repeat embolization were recorded. The outcomes
were clinical resolution, nephrectomy, or death. Clinical findings were recorded on
follow-up visits to the clinic. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive
statistics. Results: Seventy patients were included in this study between January 2000 and June 2012.
A bleeding lesion (a pseudoaneurysm or arteriovenous fistula) was detected during
the first angiogram in 55 patients (78.6%) and was selectively embolized. Fifteen
required a second angiography as there was no clinical improvement and five required
a third angiography. Overall, 66 patients (94.3%) showed complete resolution and 4
patients (5.7%) died. Three patients (4.3%) underwent nephrectomy for clinical stabilization
even after embolization. There were no major complications. The two minor complications
resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: Angiography and embolization is the treatment of choice in iatrogenic renal hemorrhage.
Upto 20% of initial angiograms may not reveal the bleed and repeat angiography is
required to identify a recurrent or unidentified bleed. The presence of multiple punctate
bleeders on angiography suggests an enlarging subcapsular hematoma and requires preoperative
embolization and nephrectomy.
Keywords
Bleeding - embolization - endovascular management - iatrogenic renal hemorrhages -
iatrogenic renal vascular injuries