During renal angioplasty, doctors use a thin tube called a catheter to clear a blockage in an artery that leads to a kidney. Often, doctors also insert a stent, which is a type of hollow tube, to keep the artery clear once the procedure is complete. In most cases, you will receive a mild sedative and a local numbing agent during the procedure and should not feel pain while it is happening. You may, however, feel the needle pricks used to insert the sedative, the initial sting of medication as it enters your body, and some mild discomfort while the doctor works to relieve the blockage. In some cases, doctors prescribe general anesthesia, which means you are asleep for the procedure.
Doctors perform renal angioplasty to ensure adequate blood supply to the kidney, which helps to ensure its health. In most cases, it is performed on an outpatient basis by a doctor who is referred to as a radiologist. Usually, a radiologist performs a renal angioplasty with the guidance of images on a monitor.
The doctor who treats you will likely place a plastic catheter into the affected artery. He will then move the catheter to the location of the arterial blockage and begin inflating and deflating a balloon that is attached to the top of the catheter. The purpose of this is to expand the blocked artery and increase its blood flow. Depending on your particular needs, he may also leave a stent, which is a flexible plastic or wire-mesh tube, in place to keep the blood flowing.
During renal angioplasty, a radiologist will usually monitor your vital signs. You will likely receive a sedative and a local numbing agent to keep you comfortable during the procedure. If you are given an intravenous (IV) sedative, you may fall asleep. If not, you are unlikely to feel pain with the exception of the needle pricks used to put the IV in place and to deliver the numbing medication. Some people also feel slight stinging when the local anesthetic is injected.
Sometimes patients describe discomfort, rather than pain, during a renal angioplasty. You may, for example, feel pressure when the catheter is inserted. You may also feel a mildly unpleasant sensation when the balloon is inflated. This is because the artery is being stretched. Typically, the discomfort becomes less noticeable when the balloon is deflated. This part should not cause outright pain.
In many cases, renal angioplasty procedures are completed in about an hour. Some that are very complex may take longer. This is particularly true if there are multiple areas of blockage.
