Introduction: The objective of this study was to present patients who underwent either elective or acute renal embolisation in a single centre where embolisation was available at all hours.
Methods: The records of all patients who underwent transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) at Odense University Hospital from October 2010 to July 2013 were extracted retrospectively and examined to determine the indication for treatment, procedural details and complications. Patients were divided into four groups: renal cancer, trauma, angiomyolipoma (AML) and others. When there was indication for embolisation, a renal angiography was performed and followed by embolisation, if possible. The procedure was performed in local analgesia via the common femoral artery and as a super-selective procedure to save as many viable nephrons as possible. The most commonly used embolisation materials were coils.
Results: In total, 35 patients were included; their mean age was 64 years (range: 17-95 years): eight females and 27 males. A total of 15 patients underwent embolisation due to renal cancer; nine elective and six acute procedures. Seven traumas were embolised. Five AML patients underwent embolisation of which three were treated acutely. Finally, eight patients were treated because of spontaneous bleeding, arteriovenous malformation or aneurisms; three elective, five acute. The post-embolisation syndrome occurred in 22 patients (63%) and six patients (17%) were re-embolised. One patient had persistent infection (3%). Post-embolisation nephrectomy was performed in four patients (11%).
Conclusion: The most common reason for TAE was renal cancer. TAE is a safe modality with few complications both when performed acutely and electively.
Funding: not relevant.
Trial registration: not relevant.