[Coma following ethanol sclerotherapy].

INTRODUCTION: Simple serous renal cysts are an often asymptomatic benign disease, sometimes treated with ethanol sclerotherapy. We report a case of iatrogenic acute alcohol intoxication following percutaneous injection of alcohol into a renal cyst under local anesthesia.

CASE: The percutaneous injection was guided by computed tomography. At the end of the procedure, the patient went into a coma due to alcohol intoxication: the cyst ruptured and ethanol was resorbed into the systemic circulation.

DISCUSSION: Alcohol injection for sclerotherapy is used for several indications. This rare event has not previous been described, but should be known so that physicians can be prepared to manage it correctly.