Transcatheter arterial embolization in the hemorrhagic complications of kidney trauma

: Transcatheter arterial embolization is a nonsurgical alternative for the complications arising from biopsy, surgery and blunt or penetrating renal trauma. Fourteen transcatheter embolization procedures were performed in 13 patients for hemorrhage following biopsy of the native kidney (3 cases) biopsy of the transplanted kidney graft (3 cases), stone surgery (3 cases), blunt abdominal trauma (2 cases), a stab wound (1 case) and an A-V fistula (1 case). The bleeding was effectively controlled in all cases. Nephrectomy was required in 3 cases (21.4%) whose kidneys were not viable and cannot be ascribed to a complication of the embolization procedure. The diagnostic aspects of hemorrhage arising from renal trauma, the embolization technique and its indications are discussed. In our view, transcatheter arterial embolization is the technique of choice for the hemorrhagic complications of blunt or penetrating renal trauma or those caused by biopsy or surgery.