The catheter embolization of acute hematuria after percutaneous nephrostomy and nephrolitholapaxy

Angiography was performed on 6 patients with acute haematuria following percutaneous nephrostomy and nephrolitholapaxy; in 3, vessel damage with leak of contrast into the nephrostomy canal or renal parenchyma was demonstrated and in 3 there were one or more pseudoaneurysms with or without arteriovenous fistula. All patients were successfully treated by catheter embolisation. Various catheter techniques (monaxial, coaxial) and embolic materials (Spongostan, Ivalon, coils) were used. The use of a Tracker-18 catheter with micro coils is the method of choice and permits superselective embolisation of bleeding from small peripheral branches with maximal preservation of the renal parenchyma.