Semin intervent Radiol 2011; 28(4): 396-406
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1296082
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Renal Artery Embolization

Steven Sauk1 , Darryl A. Zuckerman1
  • 1Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
03 January 2012 (online)

ABSTRACT

Renal artery embolization (RAE) is an effective minimally invasive alternative procedure for the treatment of a variety of conditions. Since the 1970s when RAE was first developed, technical advances and growing experience have expanded the indications to not only include treatment of conditions such as symptomatic hematuria and palliation for metastatic renal cancer, but also preoperative infarction of renal tumors, treatment of angiomyolipomas, vascular malformations, medical renal disease, and complications following renal transplantation. With the drastically improved morbidity associated with this technique in part due to the introduction of more precise embolic agents and smaller delivery catheters, RAE continues to gain popularity for various urologic conditions. The indications and techniques for renal artery embolization are reviewed in the following sections.

REFERENCES

  • 1 Turini D, Nicita G, Fiorelli C, Selli C, Villari N. Selective transcatheter arterial embolization of renal carcinoma: an original technique.  J Urol. 1976;  116 (4) 419-421
  • 2 Kadir S, Marshall F F, White Jr R I, Kaufman S L, Barth K H. Therapeutic embolization of the kidney with detachable silicone balloons.  J Urol. 1983;  129 (1) 11-13
  • 3 Hom D, Eiley D, Lumerman J H, Siegel D N, Goldfischer E R, Smith A D. Complete renal embolization as an alternative to nephrectomy.  J Urol. 1999;  161 (1) 24-27
  • 4 Ginat D T, Saad W E, Turba U C. Transcatheter renal artery embolization: clinical applications and techniques.  Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2009;  12 (4) 224-239
  • 5 Takebayashi S, Hosaka M, Kubota Y, Ishizuka E, Iwasaki A, Matsubara S. Transarterial embolization and ablation of renal arteriovenous malformations: efficacy and damages in 30 patients with long-term followup.  J Urol. 1998;  159 (3) 696-701
  • 6 Cox G G, Lee K R, Price H I, Gunter K, Noble M J, Mebust W K. Colonic infarction following ethanol embolization of renal-cell carcinoma.  Radiology. 1982;  145 (2) 343-345
  • 7 Gang D L, Dole K B, Adelman L S. Spinal cord infarction following therapeutic renal artery embolization.  JAMA. 1977;  237 (26) 2841-2842
  • 8 Woodside J, Schwarz H, Bergreen P. Peripheral embolization complicating bilateral renal infarction with gelfoam.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1976;  126 (5) 1033-1034
  • 9 Diaz-Buxo J A, Kopen D F, Donadio Jr J V. Renal allograft arteriovenous fistula following percutaneous biopsy.  J Urol. 1974;  112 (5) 577-580
  • 10 Merkus J W, Zeebregts C J, Hoitsma A J et al.. High incidence of arteriovenous fistula after biopsy of kidney allografts.  Br J Surg. 1993;  80 (3) 310-312
  • 11 Loffroy R, Guiu B, Lambert A et al.. Management of post-biopsy renal allograft arteriovenous fistulas with selective arterial embolization: immediate and long-term outcomes.  Clin Radiol. 2008;  63 (6) 657-665
  • 12 Hedegard W, Saad W E, Davies M G. Management of vascular and nonvascular complications after renal transplantation.  Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2009;  12 (4) 240-262
  • 13 Maleux G, Messiaen T, Stockx L, Vanrenterghem Y, Wilms G. Transcatheter embolization of biopsy-related vascular injuries in renal allografts. Long-term technical, clinical and biochemical results.  Acta Radiol. 2003;  44 (1) 13-17
  • 14 Dorffner R, Thurnher S, Prokesch R et al.. Embolization of iatrogenic vascular injuries of renal transplants: immediate and follow-up results.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 1998;  21 (2) 129-134
  • 15 Sennett C A, Messersmith R N, Yousefzadeh D K, Thistlethwaite Jr J R. Percapsular and percutaneous embolization of renal transplant pseudoaneurysm and AV fistula: case report.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 1989;  12 (5) 270-273
  • 16 Schwartz M J, Smith E B, Trost D W, Vaughan Jr E D. Renal artery embolization: clinical indications and experience from over 100 cases.  BJU Int. 2007;  99 (4) 881-886
  • 17 Kalman D, Varenhorst E. The role of arterial embolization in renal cell carcinoma.  Scand J Urol Nephrol. 1999;  33 (3) 162-170
  • 18 Bakal C W, Cynamon J, Lakritz P S, Sprayregen S. Value of preoperative renal artery embolization in reducing blood transfusion requirements during nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1993;  4 (6) 727-731
  • 19 Klimberg I, Hunter P, Hawkins I F, Drylie D M, Wajsman Z. Preoperative angioinfarction of localized renal cell carcinoma using absolute ethanol.  J Urol. 1985;  133 (1) 21-24
  • 20 Woodrum D A, Atwell T D, Farrell M A, Andrews J C, Charboneau J W, Callstrom M R. Role of intraarterial embolization before cryoablation of large renal tumors: a pilot study.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2010;  21 (6) 930-936
  • 21 Ginat D T, Saad W E, Turba U C. Transcatheter renal artery embolization for management of renal and adrenal tumors.  Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2010;  13 (2) 75-88
  • 22 Yamakado K, Nakatsuka A, Kobayashi S et al.. Radiofrequency ablation combined with renal arterial embolization for the treatment of unresectable renal cell carcinoma larger than 3.5 cm: initial experience.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2006;  29 (3) 389-394
  • 23 Arima K, Yamakado K, Kinbara H, Nakatsuka A, Takeda K, Sugimura Y. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with transarterial embolization is useful for treatment of stage 1 renal cell carcinoma with surgical risk: results at 2-year mean follow up.  Int J Urol. 2007;  14 (7) 585-590 discussion 590
  • 24 Mondshine R T, Owens S, Mondschein J I, Cizman B, Stavropoulos S W, Clark T W. Combination embolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy for renal cell carcinoma in the setting of coexisting arterial disease.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2008;  19 (4) 616-620
  • 25 Zielinski H, Szmigielski S, Petrovich Z. Comparison of preoperative embolization followed by radical nephrectomy with radical nephrectomy alone for renal cell carcinoma.  Am J Clin Oncol. 2000;  23 (1) 6-12
  • 26 Swanson D A, Johnson D E, von Eschenbach A C, Chuang V P, Wallace S. Angioinfarction plus nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma—an update.  J Urol. 1983;  130 (3) 449-452
  • 27 Rimon U, Duvdevani M, Garniek A et al.. Large renal angiomyolipomas: digital subtraction angiographic grading and presentation with bleeding.  Clin Radiol. 2006;  61 (6) 520-526
  • 28 Hamlin J A, Smith D C, Taylor F C et al.. Renal angiomyolipomas: long-term follow-up of embolization for acute hemorrhage.  Can Assoc Radiol J. 1997;  48 (3) 191-198
  • 29 Takebayashi S, Horikawa A, Arai M, Iso S, Noguchi K. Transarterial ethanol ablation for sporadic and non-hemorrhaging angiomyolipoma in the kidney.  Eur J Radiol. 2009;  72 (1) 139-145
  • 30 Dabbeche C, Chaker M, Chemali R et al.. [Role of embolization in renal angiomyolipomas].  J Radiol. 2006;  87 (12 Pt 1) 1859-1867
  • 31 Ramon J, Rimon U, Garniek A et al.. Renal angiomyolipoma: long-term results following selective arterial embolization.  Eur Urol. 2009;  55 (5) 1155-1161
  • 32 Kothary N, Soulen M C, Clark T W et al.. Renal angiomyolipoma: long-term results after arterial embolization.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2005;  16 (1) 45-50
  • 33 Soulen M C, Faykus Jr M H, Shlansky-Goldberg R D, Wein A J, Cope C. Elective embolization for prevention of hemorrhage from renal angiomyolipomas.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1994;  5 (4) 587-591
  • 34 Fisher R G, Ben-menachem Y. Angiography and embolization in renal trauma. In: Baum S, ed. Abram's Angiography: Vascular and Interventional Radiology. 4th ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Company; 1997: 1230-1243
  • 35 Teigen C L, Venbrux A C, Quinlan D M, Jeffs R D. Late massive hematuria as a complication of conservative management of blunt renal trauma in children.  J Urol. 1992;  147 (5) 1333-1336
  • 36 Fisher R G, Ben-Menachem Y, Whigham C. Stab wounds of the renal artery branches: angiographic diagnosis and treatment by embolization.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1989;  152 (6) 1231-1235
  • 37 Cope C, Zeit R M. Pseudoaneurysms after nephrostomy.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1982;  139 (2) 255-261
  • 38 Low R N, Jeffrey Jr R B. Intraperitoneal hemorrhage after renal biopsy: a grave prognostic sign.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1988;  151 (1) 113-114
  • 39 Ashenburg R J, Blair R J, Rivera F J, Weigele J B. Renal arterial rupture complicating transluminal angioplasty: successful conservative management.  Radiology. 1990;  174 (3 Pt 2) 983-985
  • 40 Somani B K, Nabi G, Thorpe P, McClinton S. Endovascular control of haemorrhagic urological emergencies: an observational study.  BMC Urol. 2006;  6 27
  • 41 Sofocleous C T, Hinrichs C, Hubbi B et al.. Angiographic findings and embolotherapy in renal arterial trauma.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2005;  28 (1) 39-47
  • 42 Nakatani T, Uchida J, Han Y S et al.. Renal allograft arteriovenous fistula and large pseudoaneurysm.  Clin Transplant. 2003;  17 (1) 9-12
  • 43 Bach A M, Merton D A, Burke Jr J F, Halpern E J. Sonographic diagnosis of arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm after biopsy of a transplanted kidney.  J Ultrasound Med. 1993;  12 (9) 545-547
  • 44 Horwitz M D, Hanbury D C, King C M. Renal artery pseudoaneurysm following partial nephrectomy treated with stent-graft.  Br J Radiol. 2005;  78 (926) 161-163
  • 45 Zhang L J, Yang G F, Qi J, Shen W. Renal artery aneurysm: diagnosis and surveillance with multidetector-row computed tomography.  Acta Radiol. 2007;  48 (3) 274-279
  • 46 Garg N, Pipinos I I, Longo G M, Thorell W E, Lynch T G, Johanning J M. Detachable coils for repair of extraparenchymal renal artery aneurysms: an alternative to surgical therapy.  Ann Vasc Surg. 2007;  21 (1) 97-110
  • 47 Abath C, Andrade G, Cavalcanti D, Brito N, Marques R. Complex renal artery aneurysms: liquids or coils?.  Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2007;  10 (4) 299-307
  • 48 Millard F C, Hemingway A P, Cumberland D C, Brown C B. Renal embolization for ablation of function in renal failure and hypertension.  Postgrad Med J. 1989;  65 (768) 729-734
  • 49 Keller F S, Coyle M, Rosch J, Dotter C T. Percutaneous renal ablation in patients with end-stage renal disease: alternative to surgical nephrectomy.  Radiology. 1986;  159 (2) 447-451
  • 50 Hahn S T, Park S H, Lee J M, Kim C Y, Chang Y S. Renal artery embolization controls intractable pain in a patient with polycystic kidney disease.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 1999;  22 (5) 422-424
  • 51 Harley J D, Shen F H, Carter S J. Transcatheter infarction of a polycystic kidney for control of recurrent hemorrhage.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1980;  134 (4) 818-820

Darryl A. ZuckermanM.D. 

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology

510 S. Kingshighway Blvd., Campus box 8131, St. Louis, MO 63110

Email: zuckermand@mir.wustl.edu

    >