Percutaneous transcatheter renal angioplasty: an endourological experience.

ABSTRACT

A series of 56 percutaneous transcatheter renal angioplasties, carried out in an endourological unit, is reviewed and compared with radiological series. The results were inferior for fibrosclerotic lesions (77 vs. 90%) and nonostial atherosclerosis (67.8 vs. 75%), but slightly superior for ostial lesions (33 vs. 20-30%) in the endourological series as compared with the radiological series. Conversely, morbidity was significantly inferior (8.9 vs. 18.6%). The endourological series compares well with the radiological series in the literature. Percutaneous transcatheter renal angioplasty should be considered a procedure belonging both to interventional radiology and to endourology. Owing to the technical difficulties and the complication rate, it should not be performed in outpatients and a surgical support team should be available in the event of a threatening renal complication.