Lumbar Artery Embolization for Control of Bleeding after Percutaneous Renal Biopsy

Renal biopsy is an important investigation for suspected renal parenchymal disease and is frequently required in clinical practice. Use of ultrasound and automated spring loaded device has reduced the rate of complications associated with the procedure. However, occasionally dramatic situations of hemodynamic instability arise due to bleeding after renal biopsy. Only four cases of lumbar artery injury following renal biopsy have been reported in literature. We report a case of severe hemorrhage due to first lumbar artery injury after native renal biopsy in a patient with functional platelet disorder which was managed with embolization and subsequent surgical exploration.