Renal Angiography and Renal Stenting

Home / Renal Angiography and Renal Stenting

One treatment for renal artery stenosis is renal artery angioplasty. A small flexible tube called a catheter can be positioned inside the renal artery. An angioplasty is performed by using a catheter that has a tiny balloon attached to the end. The angioplasty balloon is inflated inside the vessel and presses any plaque (blockage) into the walls of the vessel.

In addition to percutaneous angioplasty, a vessel may require stent placement. A stent is a mesh metal tube that is pressed into the sides of the vessel in order to hold the vessel open. An un-deployed stent is wrapped around an angioplasty balloon. The balloon is at the end of the catheter. The balloon and stent combination are positioned at the stenosis inside the vessel. The balloon is then inflated and thus expands (deploys) the stent, pressing it against the inside of the vessel wall. Once the stent is fully expanded, the balloon is deflated and removed from the vessel. The stent stays inside of the lumen to hold the vessel open.

What is a renal artery angioplasty and stent?

A renal artery is the main blood vessel to the kidney.

A renal artery angioplasty and stent is done to treat a narrowed renal artery. Using X-rays as a guide, a small plastic tube is put into the narrowed artery. A special balloon on the tube is blown up to open the narrowed part of the artery. An expandable tube called a stent is then put in to keep the artery open.

Benefits of a renal artery angioplasty and stent

Used to treat an artery instead of using surgery.

Risks of a renal artery angioplasty and stent

Your doctor knows the risks of a renal artery angioplasty and stent and will advise you whether the benefits outweigh any possible risk.

There may be increased risk if you are taking some medications. These include anticoagulants (blood thinning medications) and anti-inflammatory medication.

Possible risks include:

Extremely small chance you could develop cancer in the long term from the radiation. The amount of radiation you are exposed to depends on the number of pictures taken.
An allergic reaction (usually mild and easily controlled by medication) to X-ray dye.
Infection at the site of an injection.
Occasionally the procedure does not work or may make the narrowing worse or cause a blockage.
Occasionally the procedure may cause blockage to other arteries which can cause other problems. Very rarely this can cause death.