Rigi10™ Malleable Penile Prosthesis
Also Known As
Renal arteriography, Renal angiogram, Angiography - kidney, Renal artery angiography, Renal arterial angiography, Renal vascular imaging, Kidney angiography, Selective renal angiography
Definition
Renal angiography is a specialized diagnostic imaging procedure that visualizes the blood vessels of the kidneys using contrast dye and X-ray technology.1 The procedure involves injecting a radiopaque contrast medium into the renal arteries, followed by capturing X-ray images to examine the arterial blood flow through the kidneys.2 During the procedure, a radiologist inserts a catheter through an artery (typically in the groin or occasionally the wrist), guides it to the renal arteries using fluoroscopy (a type of real-time X-ray imaging), and injects contrast dye to highlight the vascular structures.1 Renal angiography enables detailed visualization of the renal vasculature, allowing for the identification of abnormalities such as stenosis, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, thrombosis, and occlusions.1,3 This technique is considered the gold standard for evaluating renal vascular anatomy and pathology, though it has been increasingly supplemented by less invasive methods such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).4
Clinical Context
Renal angiography is clinically indicated for the evaluation and diagnosis of various renal vascular conditions.1,2 The procedure is primarily used to identify and assess:
1. Vascular abnormalities of the kidneys, including:
- Aneurysms (bulging of a blood vessel)1
- Stenosis (narrowing of a blood vessel)1
- Vasospasm (spasm of a blood vessel)1
- Arteriovenous malformations (abnormal connections between arteries and veins)1
- Thrombosis (blood clots)1
- Occlusions (blockages)1
2. Other clinical indications include:
- Detection and evaluation of renal tumors1
- Assessment of renal hemorrhage (bleeding)1
- Evaluation of complications from kidney transplantation1
- Investigation of unexplained high blood pressure thought to be due to renal artery stenosis2
- Pre-surgical planning for complex kidney surgeries3
Renal angiography may be performed when other less invasive imaging modalities (such as CT scan or MRI) have not provided sufficient diagnostic information.1 The procedure can also be therapeutic, allowing for interventions such as angioplasty, stent placement, or embolization to be performed during the same session.2 Patient selection criteria include those with suspected renovascular hypertension, unexplained renal insufficiency, or discrepancies in kidney size that suggest vascular pathology.4
The procedure carries certain risks, including allergic reactions to contrast dye, arterial damage, blood clots, hematoma formation, infection, and temporary kidney failure.1,2 Patients with pre-existing kidney problems or contrast allergies require special consideration before undergoing this procedure.1,2