Renal artery and vein injury following blunt trauma

Blunt injuries of the renal vascular pedicle occur infrequently. The experience with fourteen cases of blunt renal vascular trauma is presented. Most patients were injured in motor vehicle accidents. The diagnosis was made immediately after admission in 6 patients, delayed in 5, and at autopsy in 3. Most patients presented with gross or microscopic hematuria. The diagnosis of renal vascular injury was suggested by IVP in most instances. Surgical management was used in the 6 patients in whom the immediate diagnosis of renal pedicle injury was made; primary vascular repair was carried out in 4 patients and nephrectomy in two. Conservative management was used in 4 of the 5 patients with delayed diagnosis, and nephrectomy was required in the fifth. Three patients received no treatment as two were dead on arrival and one die during laparotomy. Seven patients died (50%). One of the 7 survivors has a functioning kidney following repair of a renal vein laceration. Three patients with devascularized kidneys have been followed long term and have not developed hypertension. An IVP should be mandatory following severe blunt trauma, especially when hematuria is present. Renal arteriography is indicated with distortion of calyces, extravasation or nonfunction seen on IVP and allows a definitive diagnosis of renal vessel injury to be made.