Arterio-venous fistula with pseudoaneurysm of renal artery

The authors describe a rare but potentially severe, sometimes even life-threatening complication occurring after various invasive renal interventions. The cause that gives rise to a fistula formation between close branches of renal artery and vein is an injury of these vessels during resection of a localised renal tumour, renal biopsy, percutaneous nephrostomy, and even blunt injury of the kidney. Blood flows under pressure from renal artery, pushes the surrounding renal parenchyma open, and creates a cavity varying in size and shape. This pseudoaneurysm may communicate with the collecting system of the kidney, in which case it may lead to haematuria, one of the typical symptoms of arteriovenous fistula.