The Role of Interventional Radiology in Renal Trauma: A Narrative Review

This review highlights the role of interventional radiology in the management of renal trauma, emphasizing its contributions to imaging-based diagnosis, injury classification, and treatment. It discusses the indications for and clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial embolization, as well as the management of renal artery dissection and urinary extravasation. Transcatheter arterial embolization has demonstrated favorable outcomes, even in high-grade injuries, and repeat procedures have proven effective for managing rebleeding. Renal artery dissection may be treated with stent placement to preserve renal function. Although urinary extravasation often resolves spontaneously, persistent cases may require ureteral stenting or percutaneous drainage. Additional interventional radiology-based interventions, including embolization and cryoablation, have also been reported. As a minimally invasive, organ-preserving treatment modality, interventional radiology plays a vital role in supporting non-operative management strategies for renal trauma.