Renal Artery Repair
Narrowing of the renal arteries by atherosclerosis or other reasons is
an important cause of hypertension and kidney failure. While traditional
surgical methods are sometimes used to treat this condition, a newer,
less invasive procedure called renal artery stenting has become the most
common treatment. Renal artery stenting is done by threading a tiny, balloon-tipped
catheter through the groin to the site of the arterial narrowing. The
balloon is expanded to enlarge the artery, and a stent (a small, balloon-expandable
metal tube) or “scaffold” is put in place to optimize the
angioplasty result and minimize recurrences.