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.