Renal Angioplasty and Stenting

Renal angioplasty is a procedure that uses a small balloon to widen the passage through your renal artery. This is the main blood vessel that supplies your kidneys. A stent is a small metal mesh tube put into a blood vessel to help hold it open.

If your renal artery is narrowed or blocked, it can cause severely high blood pressure or problems with how your kidneys work. Renal angioplasty and stenting can help make blood flow to your kidney better and ease problems. The procedure is often done by a specially trained doctor called an interventional radiologist.

Before your procedure

Follow any instructions you are given on how to get ready. This includes any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the procedure.

Tell your healthcare provider if:

• You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• You are breastfeeding
• You are allergic to X-ray dye (contrast medium) or other medicines

Tell your provider about all medicines you take. You may need to stop taking some or all of them before the test. This includes:

• All prescription medicines
• Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen
• Street drugs
• Herbs, vitamins, and other supplements

During your procedure

• You will change into a hospital gown and lie on an X-ray table. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be carefully monitored during the procedure.

• An intravenous (IV) line is put into a vein. This is to give you fluid and medicines. You may be given medicine through the IV to help you relax (sedation). Medicine will be put on the skin at the insertion site to numb it (local anesthesia). The insertion site is either in the groin or wrist. Then a needle with a thin guide wire is put through the skin into the blood vessel. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is placed over the guide wire into the blood vessel.
• X-ray dye is injected into the blood vessel. The radiologist uses X-ray images as a guide. This type of imaging is called renal angiography. He or she moves the catheter through the blood vessels to your kidney. When the catheter reaches the narrowed or blocked area, the radiologist inflates a special balloon attached to the catheter. This widens the artery (angioplasty). This part of the procedure may be done more than once with balloons of different sizes.
• A stent may be put in to hold the blood vessel open. To do this, a catheter with a stent on it is threaded over the guide wire. The stent is opened when it reaches the narrowed area. The stent stays in the artery. The catheters and balloons are taken out.
• When the procedure is done, pressure is put on the insertion site for 15 minutes to stop bleeding.

After your procedure

• You may be told to lie flat and keep the leg or arm with the insertion site straight for 6 hours to stop the bleeding. It is very important that you keep your leg or arm straight during this period.
• You may stay in the hospital overnight. If you do not stay in the hospital, you should have a friend or relative assist you home. 
• You may have some pain or discomfort. This can be controlled with medicine.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the X-ray dye out of your body.
• After you go home, care for the insertion site as directed.
• You should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after the procedure or as directed by your healthcare provider.
• If you have a stent, you may need to take aspirin or a blood-thinning medicine (anticoagulant) after the procedure. This will help prevent blood clots. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or chills.
• Follow up as recommended by your healthcare provider.