Control of renal hemorrhage by selective arterial embolization

An attempt was made to control renal hemorrhage by selective embolization of the renal artery in 7 patients. In 2 patients the bleeding site was single, but in 2 others, several sites of arterial extravasation were present. Two patients had arteriovenous fistulas, and 1 had an unsalvageable, macerated kidney. Six of the 7 patients (86 per cent) were treated successfully. Nephrectomy was avoided in 5. No patient developed hypertension during the follow-up of 4 months to 2 years. Our results in these patients indicate that selective arterial embolization should have an important place in the management of patients with renal trauma.