Introduction to Renal Artery Stenosis (AAA)
Have you been suffering from high blood pressure? Have you tried changing your diet and exercising more regularly but still have serious health problems that could lead to kidney failure or chronic kidney disease? Making changes to your lifestyle and utilizing the right medications can usually treat Renal Artery Stenosis or Renal Artery Disease, but surgery is sometimes the best solution. The surgeons at Las Vegas Surgical Associates are ready to discuss your options for helping your arteries carry blood efficiently to your kidneys.
What is Renal Artery Stenosis?
Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) occurs when one or both of the renal arteries narrow. These arteries carry blood from the heart to the kidneys. When stenosis develops, blood flow to the kidneys is impeded. As a result, individuals may experience renovascular hypertension, which is a secondary type of high blood pressure. Additionally, RAS can lead to kidney failure or chronic kidney disease. Studies have shown that between 55% and 90% of RAS cases are caused by atherosclerosis. The remaining percentage is commonly caused by Fibromuscular dysplasia.
Risk factors for Renal Artery Stenosis include the following:
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Those with a Poor Diet
- High Blood Pressure
- Over the age of 45
- Smokers
What’s The First Step?
Renal Artery Stenosis Consultation
The providers at Las Vegas Surgical Associates are ready to address your Renal Artery Stenosis. Your healthcare provider may diagnose you with RAS after performing a variety of tests including kidney function tests, physical exams, and imaging scans. They will likely suggest certain medications and lifestyle changes to help lower your high blood pressure and manage your RAS like eating healthier, engaging in exercise to lose weight, and quitting smoking. The provider will explain the procedure or surgical approach, risks, recovery, benefits, and expected long-term outcomes.
Severe RAS requires surgery such as Angioplasty and stenting, which are minimally invasive procedures. These treatments allow surgeons to insert a catheter into your affected renal artery, inflate a tiny balloon inside, and then place a stent to keep it open.
Another option for RAS is Renal Artery Bypass. In this procedure, your surgeon will reroute blood to your kidneys, bypassing the blocked or narrowed renal artery. The artificial tube or your own vessel graft is sewn to the existing healthy artery and then the blocked artery.
In either case, the medical staff at LVSA will monitor your blood pressure, manage your pain, make medical adjustments, and review your overall health before discharging you.
What to Expect on the day of Renal Artery Stenosis Surgery
Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) surgery is an important step in managing this condition. You’ll be asked to fast for several hours before surgery. The surgical team will review your medical history and discuss the procedure with you. You’ll receive anesthesia (local or general) to ensure you’re comfortable during your specific procedure. After the surgery, you’ll be monitored in the recovery room. Wound care and pain management strategies will be provided. Depending on the assessment post-surgery, several patients have needed to stay in the hospital for a few days.
Renal Artery Stenosis Surgery Recovery
The course of your recovery from Renal Artery Stenosis Surgery will depend on many factors and the specific treatment. The following instructions will help in guiding your recovery and answer many of the most common post-operative questions. You’ll typically recover in the hospital for a few hours to overnight. The LSVA providers will monitor your overall health, manage pain, and track blood pressure levels. If the option for treatment was Renal Artery Bypass Surgery, most patients stay in the hospital for about a week, with stitches removed in about 1 to 2 weeks. It’s expected for most surgical patients to make a full recovery in 2 to 4 weeks.
How Much Does It Cost?
Renal Artery Stenosis Cost and Insurance Information
The cost of Renal Artery Stenosis in Las Vegas can vary widely depending on several factors, including the imaging and diagnostic tests, type of procedure, anesthesia, surgeon, and facility fees, among other things.
Make sure to consult with your LVSA and your insurance company to better understand the potential costs associated with renal artery stenosis surgery. They can provide you with any financial assistance programs that may be available to help manage expenses. Las Vegas Surgical Associates works with many insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of patients.
Why choose Las Vegas Surgery Associates?
For those looking for exceptional service that prioritizes patient-centered care, look no further than Las Vegas Surgical Associates. You should choose Las Vegas Surgical Associates because they have a team of highly skilled and experienced surgeons who specialize in a plethora of procedures such as Renal Artery Angioplasty and Stenting. Our surgeons have certifications with many medical boards, including the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Society of Laparoscopic Surgery (SLS), and the Society for Surgery of Alimentary Tract (SSAT), the American Hernia Society (AHS), and the American College of Surgeons (FACS), ASMBS (American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery ), ASCRS (America Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons).
The LVSA holistic approach can produce personalized care through your surgical experience. With state-of-the-art technology and surgical techniques, your surgeons can enhance the effectiveness and safety of your procedure.
Renal Artery Stenosis FAQ’S
Schedule a Consultation
If you have additional questions or concerns about Renal Artery Stenosis, please call our plastic surgeons at the Las Vegas Surgical Associates office at (702) 258-7788.