Diagnosis of renal artery stenosis often starts with your primary care provider, who may listen to your abdomen. A whooshing sound could indicate a blockage in the arteries going to the kidneys. You may need additional tests.
A catheter angiogram is a procedure that allows doctors to diagnose conditions such as blockages or narrowing in the blood vessels. During this procedure, which takes place in the cardiac catheterization lab, you can be lightly sedated so you’re relaxed and calm. You will lie on a table and a thin tube called a catheter will be inserted into a blood vessel. The catheter is guided to the area being examined, and contrast dye is injected through the catheter to make the blood vessels visible on X-ray images. The X-ray machine takes multiple images, which let your provider watch the catheter and the dye move through your blood vessels. When the dye slows or stops, doctors know there is a blockage or narrowed vessel.
A CT angiogram, also called a CTA, is an imaging test that uses a CT scan and contrast dye to create detailed pictures of your blood vessels. This helps doctors see blockages, aneurysms or other problems inside arteries and veins throughout your body. During this test, you will lie on a table and an IV will be placed in your hand or arm. Contrast dye will be injected into the IV, and you will have painless electrodes attached to your chest. This will allow your medical team to monitor your heart rate and rhythm. The table slides into the CT machine, which takes a series of images from various angles. The procedure usually takes less than an hour.
A duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your blood vessels. It combines traditional ultrasound for structure with a Doppler technique that shows blood flow. This allows doctors to assess blood flow speed and direction to diagnose blockages, narrowing or abnormal flow patterns. During the test, you’ll lie on a table. The technologist will place a gel over the tissues being examined and then move a transducer wand over the area. Sound waves from the wand bounce off the tissues and back to a computer, which interprets the waves to create images. The test is painless.
An MR angiogram, also known as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), is a type of imaging test that uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of your blood vessels. Because it’s performed without the use of a catheter, an MRA is less painful and less invasive. MRA can help diagnose aneurysms, arterial stenosis and vascular malformations. During an MR angiogram, you lie on a table that slides into an MRI machine. You will remain still while the MRI is performed, which can take an hour or more. In some cases, you will have contrast dye injected into your blood vessels through an IV to make them easier to visualize during the test.
