MRI and CT in blunt renal trauma: an update

Role of MRI in early follow-up of patients with solid organ injuries: How and why we do it?

Trauma represents one of the most common causes of death or permanent disability in the population below 50 years. At present, non-operative treatment is the commonly adopted strategy in hemodynamically stable patients with solid organ injuries, when there are not concomitant bowel and mesenteric injuries requiring a prompt surgical approach, but it may require multiple imaging follow-up examinations, especially in the case of major injuries. No data are available about magnetic resonance imaging utilization in the early follow-up of trauma patients with solid organ injuries, particularly in liver and spleen trauma. We report our preliminary experience in this field.

Value of Angioembolization in the Treatment of Iatrogenic Renal Vascular Injury Assisted by 3-Dimensional Digital Subtraction Angiography

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to investigate the reliability and efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol combined with coils in the embolization of iatrogenic renal vascular injury with the assistance of 3-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-six patients with minimally invasive renal bleeding who underwent transarterial embolization from January 2012 to January 2019 in our hospital were included in the study. We obtained demographic data from these patients, as well as information on clinical presentation, renal procedures used for treatment, and perioperative details. The changes in renal function tests, serum hemoglobin, serum hematocrit, and technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) levels pre- and postembolization were compared. In addition, the embolic area and the technical and clinical success rates were analyzed. Finally, an angiographic manifestation of the renal artery, 3D-DSA, and the effect of embolization were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS All patients achieved technical and clinical success after embolization (100%, 26/26). There were no significant differences between pre- and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum parameters, and 99mTc-DMSA. The embolic area was 12%±10%. Patients did not exhibit severe complications during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Proximal embolization technique assisted by 3D-DSA for renal iatrogenic hemorrhage and vascular lesions is both safe and efficacious, offering high rates for both clinical and technical success. It maximizes the protection of the kidney and reduces the rate of renal resection.

Kidney and uro-trauma: WSES-AAST guidelines

Renal and urogenital injuries occur in approximately 10-20% of abdominal trauma in adults and children. Optimal management should take into consideration the anatomic injury, the hemodynamic status, and the associated injuries. The management of urogenital trauma aims to restore homeostasis and normal physiology especially in pediatric patients where non-operative management is considered the gold standard. As with all traumatic conditions, the management of urogenital trauma should be multidisciplinary including urologists, interventional radiologists, and trauma surgeons, as well as emergency and ICU physicians. The aim of this paper is to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) kidney and urogenital trauma management guidelines.

Imaging of Urinary System Trauma

Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the kidney, ureter, and bladder permit accurate and prompt diagnosis or exclusion of traumatic injuries, without the need to move the patient to the fluoroscopy suite. Real-time review of imaging permits selective delayed imaging, reducing time on the scanner and radiation dose for patients who do not require delays. Modifying imaging parameters to obtain thicker slices and noisier images permits detection of contrast extravasation from the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, while reducing radiation dose on the delayed or cystographic imaging. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading system is discussed, along with challenges and limitations.

Urologic trauma guidelines: a 21st century update

Trauma is the leading cause of death between the ages of 1 and 44 years in the USA. While stabilization of life-threatening injuries is the primary goal in the evaluation of all trauma patients, subsequent diagnosis and treatment of secondary injuries are requirements for good trauma care. The genitourinary system is involved in 10% of trauma cases, and these injuries can be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, physicians involved in the initial evaluation and subsequent management of trauma patients should be aware of the diagnosis and treatment of injuries that can occur in the genitourinary system. In 2009, the European Association of Urology provided specific recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis and management of genitourinary trauma. Here, we review and discuss these recommendations in order to provide a concise summary for clinicians involved in the evaluation and management of trauma patients and their associated genitourinary injuries.

Renal Injury: 5-Year Experience and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Appropriate management of renal trauma is controversial. The purpose of this study is to present our 5-year experience in renal trauma and review the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1999 to 2003, 28 patients were identified with renal injuries. 25 (89.3%) of the injuries were caused by blunt trauma, 2 (7.1%) by stab wounds, and 1 (3.6%) by gunshot wound. Methods for diagnosis included ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), combinations of more than one technique or no one of them. The English-language literature about renal trauma was also identified using Medline, and additional cited works not detected in the initial search obtained.

RESULTS

18 patients underwent immediate or during 24 h operation; while 5 nephrectomies were performed. 11 patients with grade I to III injuries were selected for nonoperative management of renal injuries. All complications were noted and studied according to the initial therapeutic management and grade. Follow-up was clinical and radiological. 3 postoperative deaths were observed.

CONCLUSION

The goals of treatment of renal injuries include accurate staging and minimal complications. Surgery can be avoided in most cases of blunt renal injury but there is also a trend towards conservative management of penetrating trauma. Nephrectomy is associated with high-grade renal injuries, while minor renal injuries can safely be managed conservatively.

Multidetektorcomputertomographie (MDCT) der Nieren

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) possesses distinct advantages for examination of the kidneys. It carries the potential of becoming the gold standard of diagnostic work-up and surgical planning for most renal diseases and replacing conventional methods such as i.v. urography and angiography. The most outstanding improvements, in comparison to single slice spiral CT, are the speedier image acquisition and enhanced z-axis resolution, which aids particularly in visualization of the urinary tract as it aligns along the axis of the body. Respiratory artifacts are few or nonexistent even in patients who cannot hold their breath. This overview presents a strategy for prudent management of MDCT examinations and describes examination of the most important and frequent renal diseases using MDCT.

Urogenital trauma: imaging upper GU trauma

OBJECTIVES

This article will define the current controversies and concepts in the classification, clinical presentation, imaging approaches and management of upper urinary tract trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS, RESULTS

This review will include the experience of the authors in the field of renal trauma over a 32-year period. Current thinking accepts the view that significant renal trauma is generally present when there is gross hematuria, signs of shock, or other clinical signs of severe injury. In most patients, suspected renal injury will be evaluated as a part of the overall assessment of the patient for suspected intraperitoneal injury. The authors will stress some exceptions to the rule.

CONCLUSIONS

Most trauma experts now advocate conservative management, unless the patient is unstable or a renal vascular thrombosis or avulsion is suspected. Similarly, penetrating trauma to the kidney in and of itself no longer requires mandatory surgery. In the United States, computed tomography (CT), especially spiral CT, is considered the best diagnostic study, if available. Intravenous pyelography (IVP) is adequate if this is the only imaging modality available and if no concomitant injuries to the abdominal structure are suspected. Ultrasound, although strongly advocated in some countries, can lead to some significant false negatives. The diagnosis and management of unusual problems such as the traumatic AV fistula, the patient with an absent kidney or injury to the congenitally abnormal kidney, the serendipitous renal tumor in a patient with trauma, or serious bleeding after an apparent minor injury (i.e., spontaneous hemorrhage) are also reviewed in this article.

Is there a role for magnetic resonance imaging in renal trauma?

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT) has been the most informative imaging method in renal trauma. Despite the good sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the presence of hematoma, edema and ischemia, MRI has not been widely studied in patients with renal trauma. The present study was initiated to evaluate the role of MRI in patients with renal trauma.

METHODS

Between June 1998 and September 1999, CT and MRI were prospectively performed on 12 patients who suffered from renal trauma and the results reviewed.

RESULTS

The presence and size of perirenal hematoma could be detected by both CT and MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging could differentiate intrarenal hematoma from perirenal hematoma more accurately, and provided additional information about the hematoma as T1- and T2-weighted MRI were able to determine recent bleeding in the hematoma by regional differences in signal intensity. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly revealed renal fracture with non-viable fragment and detected focal renal laceration that was not detected on CT due to perirenal hematoma associated with renal infarction. However, although MRI had many advantages over CT, it had also major drawbacks, which were that it required longer imaging time and increased the cost.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in renal trauma. However, it is suggested that MRI should be limited to carefully selected patients, such as those with severe renal injury or equivocal findings on CT.