Arterial embolization as palliation for inoperable renal carcinoma

: Embolization of the renal artery was performed as a palliative measure in 93 inoperable patients at the Center's Clinic in 1991-2000. Radio-endovascular intervention was indicated in cases of bleeding (19, 20.5%), case-history macrohematuria with high risk of relapse (54, 58%) and drug-controlled pain (20, 21.5%). Bleeding was suspended for 3-16 days (average 7.5 +/- 4) after occlusion of the artery in 16 out of 19 patients and decreased significantly in 3 (16%). There was no bleeding after embolization among macrohematuria patients. Pain syndrome was abated in 70% while post-intervention complications occurred in 13%: they were transitory in 6.5% and--fatal in another 6.5%. Catheter-assisted arterial embolization is a fairly safe and efficient means of arresting bleeding from inoperable renal kidney coupled with marked analgesic effect.