Vascular Complications of Percutaneous Renal Surgery

Abstract

In more than 400 cases of percutaneous renal surgery, three patients suffered significant vascular injury: two arterio venous fistulas and an arterial laceration caused by postprocedure trauma. Each of these patients was initially managed conservatively. Two patients then had arteriographic intervention, one of whom required flank exploration for definitive bleeding control. In no case was nephrectomy necessary. The incidence of significant vascular injury in percutaneous renal procedures continues to be approximately 1%, and the problem can be managed with arteriographic techniques in most cases.