Traumatic prolonged hematuria and pseudoaneurysm of the renal segmental arterial branch in a 16-year-old boy treated by endovascular embolisation

Abstract

Most renal injuries in pediatric patients are treated conservatively, but prolonged hematuria and major blood vessel injuries often require active bleeding control. Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of segmental branches of the renal artery occur in 2.5% of renal injuries. They usually manifest as prolonged or intermittent secondary hematuria, but may be asymptomatic as well. Watchful waiting is the initial treatment, and around one third of patients eventually require active surgical or endovascular treatment. The two main endovascular coil embolisation methods are the “sandwich” and the “coil packing” technique, but occlusion using a stent is also possible. Traumatic prolonged hematuria caused by pseudoaneurysm of the renal segmental arterial branch, and the methods of treatment are rarely reported, especially in children. This report presents a boy in whom a blunt kidney injury lead to the formation of a pseudoaneurysm of the renal segmental arterial branch, causing prolonged hematuria. The patient was treated by endovascular embolisation through the right femoral artery, in local anesthesia and conscious sedation. A 2.7 Fr microcatheter was used to selectively enter the dominant cranial renal artery and show the pseudoaneurysm of a segmental interlobar arterial branch. A 2×4 mm coil was used to occlude the segmental interlobar arterial branch and pseudoaneurysm, with no post-procedural bleeding or significant renal segmental ischemia. Endovascular treatment offers advantages over open surgery, but has certain drawbacks as well, such as high radiation and contrast exposure. In the last few years, a minimally invasive robotic surgical procedure has been described for the treatment of intra-renal pseudoanurysm. The current worldwide trend in pediatric renal injuries treatment is the reduction in the number of nephrectomies, and a shift to non-operative and minimally invasive treatment, including endovascular procedures. University Hospital Centre Zagreb has all the specialities and capacities required for surgical and endovascular procedures in children, making it the national referral centre for pediatric renal injuries treatment.

Keywords

• hematuria – etiology; wounds
• nonpenetrating – complications; kidney – injuries; aneurysm
• false – etiology
• therapy; renal artetry – injuries; embolization