INTRAOPERATIVE DECISION-MAKING IN RENAL TRAUMA SURGERY

Surgery for renal trauma requires three intraoperative decisions: Should the kidney be explored? Is pedicle control necessary? What procedure should be performed? In 85 explorations for penetrating (66) and blunt (19) trauma, we found that penetrating injuries, active hemorrhage, or major tissue destruction are reasons for mandatory renal exploration. This resulted in 26 nephrectomies, 9 partial nephrectomies, and 4 major renorrhaphies. Forty-six patients underwent minor renorrhaphy or needless exploration without complications. Formal pedicle control was carried out 33 times (39%), but it was never necessary to control parenchymal hemorrhage. Unless a wound overlies the great vessels, perirenal hematomas can be safely entered laterally without prior pedicle control using manual pedicle or parenchymal control if needed.