Spontaneous bilateral renal artery occlusion associated with chronic atrial fibrillation

Bilateral renal artery occlusion with resultant anuria is a rare entity usually seen following blunt abdominal trauma. We present a case of bilateral renal artery occlusion in a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation who had complete resolution of acute renal failure following embolectomy 30 hours later although complete occlusion was shown by arteriography. After inclusion of this case with 35 other reported cases a point biserial correlation coefficient was calculated for delay in treatment (hours) vs outcome (functional or nonfunctional kidney and survival or death). There was no correlation between these parameters. The statistical results from these combined data demonstrate that attempts at reestablishing blood flow should be made without strict adherence to previously reported critical time frames, which have no applicability based on the evidence presented here.