Renal artery angioplasty and stenting

The renal arteries carry blood to the kidneys. When they narrow, the kidney receives less blood: this can cause high blood pressure that is hard to control or a gradual decline in kidney function. Renal angioplasty widens the narrowing from the inside with a balloon, often followed by a stent. The procedure is performed in the catheterisation laboratory under local anaesthesia, through a puncture in the groin or at the wrist. The amount of contrast dye is kept to the strict minimum to protect the kidneys. For many patients, medical treatment (blood pressure and cholesterol medicines, antiplatelets) is enough. Angioplasty is reserved for carefully selected situations: narrowing caused by fibromuscular dysplasia, often in young women, high blood pressure that resists several medicines, rapidly worsening kidney function, or episodes of sudden pulmonary oedema. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the decision is made together with the nephrologist and cardiologist, and the procedure is performed in a latest-generation catheterisation laboratory.