Renal Stents
Renal stents are those stents that are placed in the renal artery, which is the main blood vessel of the kidney. Blockages in these blood vessels affect blood flow and lead to various serious complications.
What is renal angioplasty?
Renal angioplasty is the procedure of stent placement in the renal artery. The procedure may vary but is usually as follows:
- The operator will inject anaesthesia at the puncture site. A small incision will then be made and a catheter will be inserted. A catheter is a small thin and hollow tube that is inserted into blood vessels.
- With the help of imaging tools, the operator will guide the catheter towards the blocked region of the artery.
- Next, the operator will insert the guide wire following balloon catheter (a catheter with a balloon attached at its end).
- The balloon is then inflated to expand the artery to its normal size.
- A stent is then placed in the artery and pushed against the walls of the artery. The stent remains in the artery and serves as permanent support to the artery.
- Finally, the balloon is then deflated and removed from the blood vessel along with the guide wire and catheter.
- Minimally invasive procedure that does not require surgery.
- The patient may develop an allergic reaction to the x-ray dye, however these can be controlled with medication.
- Infection at the puncture site.
- Rarely other arteries may become blocked due to the procedure and the blockage may cause sudden death.
- Rarely the procedure may fail, and the vessel may become narrower than before causing a blockage.