Complete renal embolization as an alternative to nephrectomy

Simple nephrectomy is technically demanding in patients with recurrent inflammation or bleeding. It is also unwise to subject patients in poor health to the rigors of an extensive operative procedure. We report our experience with complete renal embolization as a safe and reliable alternative to surgical nephrectomy.

Eight patients underwent complete renal embolization as an alternative to nephrectomy. Patients were given antibiotics intravenously before and after embolization. Six patients with indwelling nephrostomy tubes received post-embolization instillation of 80 mg. gentamicin before tube removal. Narcotic analgesics were also given as needed for pain control. Post-embolization hospital course was noted.

The indications for embolization included hydronephrotic, poorly functioning kidneys with pain in 5 cases, and recurrent bleeding from angiomyolipoma, bleeding after percutaneous resection of renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma with metastases and spontaneous renal bleeding after hemodialysis in 1 each. Embolization was successful in 4 men and 4 women with a mean age of 58.8 years. In 6 patients severe flank pain required narcotic analgesics. One patient complained of nausea, 6 had fever and 6 had leukocytosis. In 1 case thrombosis of a limb of an aortobifemoral bypass graft required thrombectomy. Median hospital stay was 2.5 days. At a mean followup of 30.6 months presenting symptoms had resolved in all cases without hypertension, renal failure or abscess.

Complete renal embolization is a viable alternative to nephrectomy in patients with poorly functioning kidneys who present with pain or bleeding and in those who are poor operative candidates. This procedure is safe, reliable and minimally invasive with few long-term sequelae, and it is well tolerated.