Two renal arteries supply blood to the right and the left kidneys. Partial or complete blockage of the renal arteries decreases blood flow to the kidneys and may lead to kidney damage. Clots usually originate in the heart and travel to the renal arteries via the bloodstream, or they may be blood clots that are formed in the renal artery itself. A tear or a rupture of the lining of a renal artery or the aorta, which is a major blood vessel of the heart, can also cause blockage. Treatment involves elimination of the blockage.
Medications
Thrombolytic drugs such as streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator act as the first line of defense against renal artery blockages caused by blood clots. However, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, these drugs are effective only to treat partial blockage of the arteries or for clots that tend to dissolve quickly and are helpful only if given within three hours of appearance of symptoms. Thrombolytic drugs may also lead to adverse reactions such as severe bleeding in some patients, and hence, the patient is closely monitored within a health care facility.
Another set of drugs known as anticoagulants can also be prescribed to treat blood clots that cause renal artery blockage. The therapy usually involves intravenous administration of an anticoagulant such as warfarin, followed by oral administration of drugs such as heparin, for a long period. These drugs inhibit the action of blood proteins called clotting factors and prevent the existing clots from enlarging while inhibiting the formation of new clots. The patient is monitored closely by a physician until the effect of these drugs on the patient are completely known.
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is an invasive procedure that is performed to remove the clots from the renal artery and to widen it, thereby ensuring proper blood flow to the kidneys. According to BostonScientific.com, a wire with a balloon is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin and advanced to the blocked renal artery. The balloon is then inflated to open the obstructed area. A short hollow tube called a stent may be placed in the area to avoid future blockage. Local anesthesia or sedation may be used during the procedure.
Surgery
Surgery is not a common treatment for renal artery blockage and is recommended only when drug therapy and angioplasty are unsuccessful in restoring blood flow to the kidneys. Endarterectomy and bypass are the two most common surgical procedures. While endarterectomy involves surgical removal of the plaque deposits and clot from the renal artery, a bypass procedure involves using a segment from another artery or vein to construct a detour around the blocked area of the renal artery. According to Cleveland Clinic, the large artery in the abdomen known as the abdominal aorta is the most common artery used during bypass surgery.
