Surgery for renal artery aneurysms: a combined series of two large centers

To review the clinical features and results of surgical treatment of renal artery aneurysms from two large centers.

A retrospective analysis of 21 hypertensive patients with renal artery aneurysms operated in two centers during a 24-year period was performed.

The presenting symptom was subcostal or flank pain in 8 (38%) and hematuria in 5 (24%) cases. A ring-like calcification was seen on plain X-ray in 6 (29%) cases. All patients were evaluated with renal angiography showing a saccular aneurysm in 13 cases (62%), fusiform in 5 (24%) and dissecting in 3 (14%) cases. All saccular aneurysms were treated with resection followed by reconstruction with vein patch in 10 cases, and with and end-to-end anastomosis in 3 cases. All fusiform and dissecting aneurysms were managed with resection and reconstruction using aortorenal bypass. There was no hospital mortality or significant morbidity. During a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 23 years, there was definite cure of hypertension in 14 (67%) patients and improvement of blood pressure levels in 4 (19%) patients. Three patients continued to be hypertensive.

Surgery for renal artery aneurysms can be accomplished with good results and should be considered for patients with aneurysms greater than 2 cm, for aneurysms causing renovascular hypertension, significant stenosis, flank pain, or hematuria, for dissecting, expanding and thrombotic aneurysms, and in women with a potential for pregnancy. However, all aneurysms cannot and should not be treated surgically.