Renal artery injuries following blunt trauma

From 1861 to 1975 fifty-three cases of blunt renal pedicle injury have been reported. Sixty-five kidneys were involved (twelve bilateral injuries) and 32 of them were removed. Reconstructive surgery was tried on 17 kidneys, of which only one healed without complication and with recovery of normal function. In addition, in 4 patients with bilateral injury, operation preserved enough kidney function to save the patients from hemodialysis, though 2 of them developed hypertension. This paper reports 4 further cases. In 2 patients with renal artery thrombosis nephrectomy was eventually performed after preceding reconstructive or conservative treatment. The third patient with thrombosis was not seen until several years after the trauma and was treated conservatively. The fourth patient had a ruptured intrarenal arterial branch with massive hematuria and finally required resection of the kidney. An early diagnosis of renal artery injury following severe abdominal trauma requires immediate aortography, sometimes with subsequent selective catheterization. If renal trauma is not strongly suspected, intravenous large dose pyelography may be indicated as the first step. Surgical repair should consist of resection of the injured artery and reconstruction with a venous graft, or autotransplantation of the kidney. If treated conservatively, the patient must be followed up at regular intervals for hypertension and other complications.