Bacterial endocarditis presenting with unilateral renal artery occlusion treated with the Rinspirator Thrombus Removal System rinsing and thrombectomy device and suction thrombectomy

Abstract

We report a 36-year-old man who presented with unilateral flank pain caused by renal artery occlusion with ischemia and infarction from septic emboli secondary to bacterial endocarditis. We treated the occlusion with a novel rinsing and aspiration device, the Rinspirator Thrombus Removal System (ev3, Plymouth, Minn) and suction thrombectomy, which resulted in significant revascularization of the kidney and relief of symptoms. Postprocedural imaging demonstrated marked improvement in renal vascularization, with only small areas of infarction. This technique may be useful in patients where the embolic material is chronic or thrombolytic agents are contraindicated.