LIFE-THREATENING HEMATURIA FROM AN ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA COMPLICATINGAN OPEN RENAL BIOPSY

Arteriovenous fistulae and pseudoaneurysms are not rare after renal bi opsy. The majority of these lesions (80%) are asymptomatic or show onl y transient symptoms. We present here a patient who developed life-thr eatening hematuria following an open renal biopsy. Arteriovenous fistu la and pseudoaneurysm were detected in the biopsied kidney by color-co ded Doppler sonography, confirmed by angiography, and the fistula was sealed by superselective arterial embolization with metallic coils. Co lor-coded Doppler sonography successfully detects the majority of arte riovenous fistulae after renal biopsy, and selective arterial emboliza tion obviates the need for surgical intervention in most cases.