Endovascular treatment of eight renal artery aneurysms

Renal artery aneurysms (RAA) are a relatively rare vascular entity. Treatment could be either surgical or via an endovascular route. The main aim of therapy is to prevent lethal rupture.

To evaluate the angiographic and clinical results after endovascular treatment (EVT) of eight renal artery aneurysms.

From January 2000 to June 2011, 18 patients presented with 18 renal artery aneurysms. One was classified as Rundback type I, 15 were type II, and two aneurysms were type III. Endovascular treatment was considered unsafe in 10 cases (all were Rundback type II), and were referred to surgery. The remaining eight aneurysms were treated endovascularly during altogether nine sessions. Among these, four patients were asymptomatic, three were hypertensive, and one presented with ipsilateral flank pains. Aneurysmal sac diameter varied between 12 and 50 mm. EVT included selective coil embolization in five cases, covered stents in two cases, and parent artery occlusion in one.

Follow-up with CT angiography was obtained in all endovascularly treated aneurysms (range 6-54 months, mean 15 months). Complete durable occlusion was achieved in all aneurysms except one, which showed re-expansion after 20 months and was retreated with covered stent implantation. Clinically silent, branch occlusion occurred after four procedures with subsequent limited (less than 25%) ischemic parenchymal loss. All patients were discharged with preserved renal function. Clinical improvement was noted in all symptomatic patients.

Endovascular treatment of renal artery aneurysms is an adequate treatment and can be proposed, if feasible, as first step.