Renal Arterial Pseudoaneurysm and Renal Arteriovenous Fistula Following Partial Nephrectomy

Renal arterial pseudoaneurysm (RAP) and renal arteriovenous fistula (RAVF) are rare but can cause fatal bleeding.

A retrospective review was conducted for patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) in our department. The clinical features and treatment methods were analysed, and the relationships between RAP/RAVF and the surgical methods and R.E.N.A.L. score were investigated.

Eleven patients were diagnosed with RAP/RAVF (9 with RAP and 2 with RAVF). The incidence of RAP/RAVF after laparoscopic PN showed no significant difference compared to that after open PN (p = 0.47). A low R.E.N.A.L. score was present in 6 patients, while an intermediate/high score was present in the other 5 patients. The major clinical manifestations included haematuria and haemorrhagic shock, and the median time of occurrence was 8 days after the operation. Six patients underwent an ultrasound examination. Of the 4 patients who underwent enhanced CT, 2 patients were diagnosed with RAP. All 11 patients were diagnosed by renal angiography and were cured after super-selective arterial embolization. The serum creatinine levels before and after embolization showed no significant differences (p = 0.14).

RAP/RAVF may not have any relationship with the surgical procedure or R.E.N.A.L. score. Renal angiography and super-selective arterial embolization are the preferred methods for diagnosing and treating RAP/RAVF.