J Korean Radiol Soc.
1995 Oct;33(4):609-614.
CT Classification of Renal Injury and Its Role in Decision on Operation
Abstract
- PURPOSE
This study was performed to examine if CT classification of renal blunt injury could aid in
expectation of hemodynamic stability and clinical decision of whether to intervene surgically.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Over a 80-month period between July 1987 and March 1994, 41 patients were
admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of renal blunt injury. The renal blunt injuries were classified on
Fedede's three-point scale CT classification methods :grade I, contusion, intrarenal hematoma, segmental
infarction, and small subcapsular hematoma;grade II, complete or incomplete laceration, large subcapsular
hematoma, and renal fracture;grade Ill, shattered kidney and renal pedicle injury. Hemodynamic stability,
treatment method and clinical outcome of the patients with different CT grade were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
All 34 patients with grade I or II CT findings were hemodynamically stable and were successfully
managed with conservative method. Among 7 patients with grade III CT findings, 6 patients were hemodynamically
unstable. Out of the 6, One patient with grade IIIb or renal pedicle injury was expired before surgical
intervention due to ischemic shock. Four patients were intervened surgically with one failure to thrive. The
remaining one patient refused to be intervened surgically, and was discharged against medical advice. Only
one out of 7 patients was hemodynamically stable and was managed conservatively.
CONCLUSION
The patients with grade I or II CT findings are prone to be hemodynamically stable and to be
managed with conservative method. But the patients with grade III CT findings are more likely to be
hemodynamically unstable. Therefore patients with grade III CT findings should be closely monitored and be pre-
pared for the possibility of immediate surgical intervention