Renal artery rupture following cutting balloon angioplasty for fibromuscular dysplasia: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Angioplasty with the use of cutting balloons has been suggested by some case reports and small series for the treatment of renal artery stenoses that are resistant to conventional balloon catheters. Based on this limited experience, the use of this technology has been suggested as safe. Herein, we report a renal artery rupture following angioplasty with a cutting balloon. The complication was salvaged with a stent graft. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old white female patient with resistant hypertension caused by a severe renal artery stenosis attributed to fibromuscular dysplasia, was submitted to conventional balloon angioplasty without success. Dilatation of the lesion with a cutting balloon resulted in arterial rupture, with concomitant retroperitoneal hematoma. CONCLUSION: Cutting balloon angioplasty of renal artery lesions resistant to conventional balloon angioplasty should not be considered as safe as previously thought. When proceeding with such a procedure, a stent graft should be available for immediate use.