Transcatheter embolization of the renal artery to treat massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage in long-term dialysis patients

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) and renal tumors often develop in long-term dialysis patients. In addition, rupture of the cysts leading to hemorrhagic shock can be another serious complication. There are few reports on transcatheter arterial embolization for retroperitoneal hemorrhage caused by cyst rupture in chronic dialysis patients. We report here three cases of massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage, caused by cyst rupture in two patients with ACKD and another patient with polycystic kidney disease during long-term dialysis, which were successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. Embolization of the renal artery was performed with absolute ethanol and/or stainless steel coils.