Maleux G, Vermylen J, Wilms G
Department of Radiology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Eur Radiol. 2002 Jun;12(6):1401-4. doi: 10.1007/s00330-001-1175-3. Epub 2001 Nov 16.
Iatrogenic injury of a lumbar artery is very rare and mostly causes retroperitoneal hemorrhage. We report a case of a lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm and a concomitant arteriovenous fistula complicating laparoscopic splenectomy and provoking renal colic-like flank pain due to mass effect on the left ureter. Definitive treatment of both vascular lesions was obtained after percutaneous transcatheter embolization of several lumbar arteries. Control computed tomography scan 3 months after embolization showed almost complete resorption of the retroperitoneal hematoma.