Renal Infarction following Asymptomatic Aortoiliac Thrombosis as a Cause of Severe Flank Pain; a Case Report

Abstract

Renal infarction is rare and may be considered acute renal colic in presentation. In this report, we describe a case of renal infarction caused by thrombosis that extended from the aortoiliac to the infrapopliteal segment, along with thrombosis that occurred in the right popliteal artery and left atrium. A 48-year-old man was referred to the emergency department (ED) suffering left flank pain. The pain was significant with radiation to the left lower quadrant, and the pain did not significantly decrease despite intravenous ketorolac and morphine sulfate administration. We decided to perform a color Doppler ultrasound test of intraabdominal vessels that revealed low flow in the left iliac artery. By computed tomography angiography (CTA), it was confirmed that the left renal, iliac, and popliteal arteries were thrombosed. The patient underwent anticoagulation, thrombectomy, and Mitral valve replacement surgery during the hospitalization. After 14 days, his heart rhythm returned to normal sinus and he was discharged from the hospital with proper outpatient follow-up. Patients with severe flank pain and who do not respond to routine treatments, especially patients with significant risk factors, should be evaluated more carefully for red flag diagnosis.

Keywords

• Flank pain
• Renal artery thrombosis
• Atrial fibrillation
• Valvular disorders