Spontaneous rupture of a renal artery pseudoaneurysm in a hemodialysis patient : A case report

Abstract

Rationale:

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare vascular lesion usually caused by trauma or percutaneous urological procedures. Spontaneous rupture of pseudoaneurysms without predisposing events, especially in hemodialysis patients, has rarely been reported.

Patient concerns:

A 25-year-old man receiving maintenance hemodialysis visited the emergency room because of sudden severe right flank pain. He had no history of trauma or urological procedures except for a left renal biopsy to diagnose Alport syndrome 10 years prior.

Diagnosis:

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a right perirenal hematoma with pseudoaneurysms.

Interventions:

On renal angiography, multiple pseudoaneurysms were observed in the right renal artery branches and embolization was performed.

Outcomes:

Post-angiography showed no pseudoaneurysms. His abdominal pain improved, and he was discharged 2 weeks after embolization.

Lessons:

When maintenance dialysis patients complain of severe abdominal pain, spontaneous rupture of a renal pseudoaneurysm should be considered as a differential diagnosis, even if the patient has no history of trauma or previous urological procedures.