Color Doppler ultrasound guidance during renal angioplasty and stenting.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether an imaging technique combining color Doppler ultrasonography and selective renal artery digital subtraction angiography reduces contrast requirements in patients with progressive renal insufficiency undergoing renal artery angioplasty and stenting.


METHODS
Eight patients (5 men; mean age 58 years) with renal artery stenosis and renal insufficiency underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting under color Doppler ultrasound guidance.


RESULTS
Color Doppler ultrasound imaging yielded the information necessary for verifying catheter position, stent placement and expansion, and hemodynamics after revascularization. The combined imaging technique considerably reduced contrast requirements to only 10 mL in each case. No worsening of renal function was seen in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined imaging procedure uses low doses of contrast agent and is especially suited to patients with renal dysfunction undergoing percutaneous renal revascularization.
Cianci
Rosario
R
Department of Clinical Medicine, Vascular Ultrasonographic Diagnostic Service, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Zaccaria
Alvaro
A
Lai
Silvia
S
Coen
Giorgio
G
Mander
Antonio
A
Manfredini
Paolo
P
Minnetti
Marco
M
Clemenzia
Gianfranco
G
Fiorani
Paolo
P
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media