Contemporary Outcomes of in Situ Open Surgical Repair of Mid-Portion and Distal Renal Artery Aneurysms

The best management of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) remains controversial, especially when they are located from the mid to distal portions of the main renal artery. Our aim is to evaluate our 10-year experience with in situ open surgical repairs from a cohort of non-proximal RAAs at a single vascular surgery center.

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent RAA in situ repairs located from the mid to distal portions of the renal artery at our Institution was performed between 2009 and 2020. Data on patient demographics, comorbidities, aneurysm location and morphology, type of in situ technique, and perioperative data were assessed. Postoperative biomarkers and renal function were collected, and mid-term follow-up results were analyzed.

A total of 15 RAA located at mid and distal portions of the renal artery repaired with in situ techniques were performed in 15 patients (nine men, mean age 62.4 ± 6.36 years). At diagnosis, 12 patients were asymptomatic; a history of abdominal pain was found in one patient, and two patients had drug-resistant hypertension. Two patients had already undergone previous unsuccessful attempts of endovascular treatment. All patients presented an aneurysm diameter >20 mm (mean diameter 2.75 ± 5 mm). At admission, mean serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate were 1.10 ± 0.23 mg/dL and 69.8 ± 9.8 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. Nine lesions were present in the distal portion of the renal artery, with 4 cases having ≥3 efferent branches and the other 5 with two efferent branches. The other six RAAs were in the mid-portion: in 4 cases, one efferent branch, and in 2 cases, two efferent branches were involved. All patients underwent in situ open repair: an end-to-end anastomosis was performed in 9 cases, aneurysm resection with primary closure in 3 cases, bypass with graft interposition in 2 cases (one iliac-renal reconstruction), and with vein interposition in 1 case. The mean renal ischemia time was 21.8 ± 9.4 min. A significant decrease on renal function was not observed (mean glomerular filtration rate at discharge: 64.8 ± 12.0 mL/min/1.73m²; P > 0.22). During recovery, one patient developed retroperitoneal hematoma treated conservatively. During follow-up (mean 46 months, range 2-135), one patient developed occlusion of a terminal renal artery branch without decreased kidney function.

In situ techniques for RAA from the mid to distal portions of the renal artery are technically complex; however, based on our results, these procedures were safe and effective, providing satisfactory early and mid-term outcomes.