Incidence of renal infarctions after transrenal stent placement in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence and appearance of renal infarctions after transrenal stent placement in an animal model.


METHODS
An aortic stent was placed via a femoral approach in 20 female Merino sheep. Ten animals had intentional coverage of one renal ostium with the bare struts, 1 sheep had both renal artery ostia covered, and the other 9 sheep had no stent impingement on the renal orifices. Animals were sacrificed after 3 to 12 months (mean 6) for gross pathological and histological evaluation. Infarction locations and patterns were evaluated and correlated to stent placement.


RESULTS
Of the 40 renal arteries, coverage was proven at autopsy in 12 cases; the remaining 28 arteries were free of any stent overlay. Overall, 14 (35%) renal infarctions were detected; 7 were found in the 12 arteries with a transrenal stent (58.3% incidence in covered renal arteries). By comparison, the other 7 infarctions were found in the 28 unaffected arteries (25% incidence in noncovered renal arteries; p = 0.04). All infarctions appeared to be well-defined punctate lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
A transrenal stent position in the abdominal aorta is related to increased renal infarctions in an animal model.
Krämer
Stefan C
SC
Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany. kraemers@uni-muenster.de
Görich
Johannes
J
Bachmann
Rainald
R
Fuge
Daniel
D
Kuhnt
Barbara
B
Scharrer-Pamler
Reinhard
R
D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D007673:Kidney Cortex Necrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*