Complications in percutaneous transluminal dilatation of renal arteries.

We propose a classification of the complications in renal artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) according to their severity and their direct or indirect relationship to PTA. Minor complications are reversible within the normal recovery period after PTA, while major complications are irreversible or reversible but necessitate extended hospitalization or surgery. The following complications are reported in the literature as being directly related to PTA: hemorrhage at the puncture site, hemorrhage from renal or access artery perforation or rupture, occlusive or nonocclusive dissection of the renal or access arteries, renal artery thrombosis, renal artery spasm or embolism leading to segmental renal infarction, peripheral artery embolisation, and balloon rupture complications. The indirectly related complications include transient or irreversible renal insufficiency, contrast media hypersensitivity, pressure-drop-related cerebral or myocardial ischemia, and anticoagulation-related hemorrhage infections. In our own series of 105 PTA in 80 patients, complications occurred in 11% of which 4% were major, 1% indirectly related to PTA leading to death. In the reports available, the rate of major complication ranges between 3 and 10%, and the death rate around 1%.