Totally percutaneous endovascular renal allograft salvage for common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Delayed presentation of recipient artery pseudoaneurysms following kidney transplantation is a rare, yet critical, complication. Although the precise etiology remains unclear, factors such as chronic steroid use, iatrogenic injuries (including vascular clamp damage during index surgery), or infections could contribute. Timely surgical intervention is imperative to prevent arterial rupture and life-threatening bleeding. Open repair, although commonly used, is associated with notable mortality rates and graft loss. Endovascular repair for delayed presentations of native iliac artery pseudoaneurysms has seen limited documentation in the literature. We present a case involving salvage of a kidney graft through innovative application of an endovascular technique using a modified stent graft with fenestration for the transplanted renal artery. The pseudoaneurysm, discovered 4 years after transplantation, was situated in proximity to the anastomosis site of the kidney graft’s renal artery to recipient common iliac artery. Traditional open repair posed significant risks of graft loss due to its location near the kidney allograft. Our approach successfully resolved the issue, preserving graft function and resulting in a short length of hospital stay. This case contributes to the limited body of knowledge on delayed presentation of pseudoaneurysms after kidney transplantation. Successful application of an endovascular approach underscores its potential as a safe and effective alternative to open repair, offering favorable outcomes in terms of patient morbidity, mortality, and graft salvage.