Aorto-left renal vein fistula: is there a place for endovascular management?

PURPOSE

To describe the endovascular treatment of an aorto-left renal vein fistula.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 77-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presented with low back pain, hematuria, cyanosis, and a pulsatile abdominal mass. Imaging confirmed a 7-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm with a contained rupture into the left renal vein. Owing to the patient's high surgical risk, a Talent Endoluminal Stent-Graft was implanted to satisfactorily exclude the aneurysm. Hemodynamic stability and normal renal function were restored; however, continued perfusion of the sac prompted an attempt to percutaneously repair the renal vein defect. This effort failed, so open laparotomy was necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

Although total endovascular management was not successful in this case, the initial use of a minimally invasive approach allowed the patient's clinical status to improve and lower the risk of subsequent surgery.