Along with renal angioplasty, surgery and medications are used for the treatment of blocked renal artery or renal stenosis. Here is detailed information on the different treatment methods.
Anything ‘renal’ refers to the kidneys. The renal artery is the artery that carries blood from the heart to the kidneys. A blockage in the artery leads to a condition known as renal artery disease or renal artery stenosis. It can be a fairly serious condition as the blood supply to the kidneys gets reduced due to the block. Here we will see about the different methods available for treating it. But, let us first take a brief look at the symptoms and causes of blocked arteries that forces for its treatment.
An Overview of Renal Stenosis
When we say that the arteries are narrowed or blocked, it means that the diameter of the arteries is reduced, which obstructs the blood flow. One of the most common causes of a blocked renal artery is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when the arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits on its wall. Factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age, smoking, family history of renal artery disease, etc. put a person at a risk of suffering from this disease.
On the other hand, a condition known as fibromuscular dysplasia, and presence of blood clots in the arteries can also result in blockage of kidney artery. Unfortunately, there are no noticeable symptoms observed when one suffers from this disease. One of the significant sign that can help in diagnosing this disease is a high blood pressure that does not lower even on taking proper treatment. Other diagnostic methods like the X-ray and CT scan are used for diagnosing this disease.
Treatment for Renal Stenosis
If left untreated, renal artery disease can lead to kidney failure and congestive heart failure. Therefore, it is essential to consult the doctor if you experience symptoms related to high blood pressure, with no known cause. There are several treatment methods available for the treatment of renal artery disease. As blocked renal artery and high blood pressure are very closely related, one of the first and foremost step in treating this condition is to bring high blood pressure under control.
Medications and changes in lifestyle help in lowering high blood pressure. It should be noted that high blood pressure can deteriorate the kidneys further, and hence reducing high blood pressure is a must. Once the blood pressure is under control, the doctor will monitor the functioning of the kidneys and prescribe treatment methods accordingly.
Secondly, if the blockage in the renal artery is caused due to blood clots, then it is treated with the help of medications like anticoagulants. Anticoagulants help in prevention of blood clots and can help in clearing off the artery. Similarly, there are also medications that help in dissolving the blood clots caused in the renal arteries.
On the other hand, we also find certain methods of treating blocked renal artery similar to those used for treating blocked artery of the heart, like the angioplasty and bypass surgery. Renal angioplasty is also one of the most common methods used to treat the blocked artery of the kidneys. The endarterectomy and bypass procedure are surgical procedures used for removing the fatty deposits in arteries. However, the surgical procedures are used in case all other methods fail.
Along with the treatment methods, you also need to make changes in the lifestyle in order to keep the blood pressure in control and prevent this condition. You should have a healthy and nutritious diet that is low in fat and cholesterol. Secondly, you should exercise regularly. Lastly, it is also advisable to quit drinking and smoking in order to prevent diseases related to arteries. Take care!