Pregnancy with a ruptured renal artery aneurysm: management concerns and endovascular management

Renal artery aneurysm (RAA) affects <0.01% of the general population. Rupture of RAA is a rare catastrophe that can complicate pregnancy and is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality. Presentation is usually acute with severe flank pain, with or without haematuria, and haemodynamic instability requiring exploration and nephrectomy. A 26-year-old pregnant woman had sudden onset of gross haematuria and on evaluation was found to have a left RAA with an intrapelvic rupture and thinned out renal parenchyma. In view of the high risk of surgery, she was managed with endovascular placement of an Amplatzer type II vascular plug. Immediate and complete occlusion of blood flow was achieved and nephrectomy was avoided. Follow-up Doppler ultrasound revealed a reduced 5 cm mass in the left renal fossa with no internal flow and plug in position. She is currently on follow-up with 3-6 monthly ultrasonography not requiring any intervention.