Successful Management of Postbiopsy Arteriovenous Fistula with Selective Arterial Embolization

Selective arterial embolization of autologous clot into a large post-biopsy renal arteriovenous fistula produced complete closure of the fistula and immediate cessation of hematuria. Repeat arteriography after five days demonstrated persistent occlusion of the fistula, while elsewhere the clot had virtually completely lysed. Although no angiographic evidence of infarction was noted, a small infarction was seen in the lower pole of the right kidney at autopsy one month later which might have been secondary to the injected thrombus.