Intrarenal pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a case report

ABSTRACT Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the gold standard to treat large or complex renal stones. Intrarenal pseudoaneurysm is a rare, yet clinically significant, complication of PNL. Case summary: A 58-year-old man with a 3 cm calculus in the lower calyx of the left kidney was operated on by PNL 3 days before presentation to the emergency department. The patient presented with massive hematuria and dizziness. Upon presentation, the patient appeared uncomfortable and in distress. He was in hemorrhagic shock. The patient was resuscitated with intravenous fluids and blood transfusion. An urgent computed tomography scan showed multiple clots in the left renal pelvis and bladder with a retroperitoneal hematoma. The patient underwent angiography which revealed an inferior pole branch pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm was treated by endovascular embolization with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. No postoperative complications were seen. Conclusion: Selective renal artery embolization is an effective treatment for pseudoaneurysm post PNL with excellent outcomes.