Recovery of Renal Function after Prolonged Anuria in Acute Suprarenal Aortic Occlusion

Acute suprarenal aortic occlusion is a rare but often catastrophic event. Despite immediate treatment, mortality and morbidity are high. We present a case of acute suprarenal aortic occlusion presenting with renal failure and dyspnea but without lower limb ischemia. Diagnosis was initially not taken in consideration. The patient required hemodialysis and temporary mechanical ventilation. After 13 days, an abdominal ultrasound was performed which revealed thrombosis of the suprarenal abdominal aorta. Suprarenal aortic thrombectomy was performed followed by aortobi-iliac bypass grafting. Diuresis returned 4 hr after surgery, and the patient fully recovered. Thorough review of the literature revealed only 8 cases of acute suprarenal aortic occlusion. Only 3 patients survived. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute suprarenal occlusion, in which renal function could be restored after a 14-day period of anuria. The case illustrates that in select cases with prolonged acute renal failure aortorenal revascularization can be performed successfully.