Clinical outcome and safety of selective renal artery embolization using permanent occlusive agents for acute renal bleeding

To evaluate how far is selective renal artery embolization (RAE) using permanent agents effective in treating acute renal artery bleeding. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients (n = 45) with renal bleeding who were managed by selective RAE using coils, N-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue (NBCA glue), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Data retrieved included the cause, number, and type of the bleeding lesions as well as the results of the embolization for 1 year after RAE. Clinical success was the primary outcome while re-bleeding and complications were the secondary outcomes. There were 55 bleeding lesions detected by angiography in the included 45 patients. Coils were used in 23/45 patients (51.1%), NBCA glue in 15/45 patients (33.3%), and PVA in 7 patients (15.6%). Bleeding could be controlled with embolization in a single session in 41/45 patients with primary clinical success 91.1%. Four patients needed re-embolization sessions to control bleeding and only one patient was controlled, giving secondary clinical success of 92.3%. Three patients failed to respond to embolization and nephrectomy was done. Iatrogenic dissection of the segmental branch was seen in one patient. Post embolization syndrome was seen in 14/45 patients (31.1%). Non-target embolization was seen in 2 patients: one during treatment with NBCA glue and the other with PVA. No other complications were recorded. No significant differences between clinical success among coil, NBCA glue, and PVA subgroups (P > 0.05). Selective RAE using permanent agents is effective in controlling renal bleeding and no significant difference among coil, NBCA glue, and PVA.