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Renal Angioplasty in Hyderabad
— Kidney Artery Stenting at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli

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Dr Bhishma Chowdary cardiologist in Hyderabad
Dr Bhishma Chowdary cardiologist in Hyderabad

Renal Angioplasty in Hyderabad — Kidney Artery Stenting at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli

Renal angioplasty is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure to open narrowed or blocked renal arteries — the vessels that supply blood to the kidneys. When these arteries narrow, a condition called renal artery stenosis, the kidneys respond by releasing hormones that raise blood pressure throughout the body — often producing severe, difficult-to-control hypertension that resists multiple medications. Dr. Bhishma Chowdary performs renal angioplasty and stenting at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, restoring blood flow and, in appropriately selected patients, significantly improving blood pressure control and preserving kidney function.

At a Glance

Procedure type Percutaneous vascular intervention — minimally invasive
Condition treated Renal artery stenosis — narrowing of the artery supplying the kidney
Main causes Atherosclerosis (most common, older patients), Fibromuscular dysplasia (younger patients, usually women)
Duration 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
Anaesthesia Local anaesthesia + conscious sedation. Awake throughout.
Access Femoral or radial artery
Hospital stay 24 hours (overnight observation)
Recovery Walking same day. Normal activity within 3 to 5 days.
Performed by Dr. Bhishma Chowdary, DM Cardiology, FSCAI, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad
Appointment +91-9000352998

What is renal artery stenosis?

The kidneys receive blood through the renal arteries, which branch directly from the aorta. When a renal artery narrows — most commonly from atherosclerotic plaque, and less commonly from fibromuscular dysplasia — blood flow to the kidney falls. The kidney interprets this as a sign of low blood pressure throughout the body and responds by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormonal cascade that raises blood pressure system-wide in an attempt to restore renal perfusion. The result is a form of secondary hypertension — renovascular hypertension — that is often severe and resistant to standard medications.

Over time, uncorrected renal artery stenosis can also cause progressive kidney damage from chronic under-perfusion, and in bilateral or severe unilateral cases, can precipitate flash pulmonary oedema — a sudden, dramatic build-up of fluid in the lungs.

Two distinct causes, two distinct patient groups

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (90% of cases) Cholesterol plaque narrows the artery, typically at its origin from the aorta (ostial stenosis). Occurs in older patients with other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol. It is often found alongside coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease as part of widespread atherosclerosis.
Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) (10% of cases) A non-atherosclerotic condition causing abnormal cell growth in the artery wall, producing the characteristic "string of beads" appearance on angiography. It typically affects younger women between 20 and 50 years of age and commonly presents with hypertension without other cardiovascular risk factors.

When is renal angioplasty recommended?

Not every renal artery stenosis requires intervention — many patients with mild to moderate narrowing are managed successfully with medication alone. Dr. Bhishma Chowdary recommends renal angioplasty in specific clinical situations, guided by evidence from large trials including CORAL, which refined patient selection criteria:

  • Resistant hypertension — blood pressure that remains uncontrolled despite the use of three or more antihypertensive medications at optimal doses, including a diuretic.
  • Recurrent flash pulmonary oedema — sudden episodes of severe breathlessness caused by fluid accumulation in the lungs, particularly in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis affecting a single functioning kidney.
  • Progressive decline in kidney function associated with worsening renal artery stenosis, especially when ACE inhibitors or ARBs cannot be tolerated because of rising serum creatinine levels.
  • Renal artery stenosis with a small but potentially salvageable kidney — restoring blood flow may help preserve remaining kidney function and prevent further deterioration.
  • Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) with hypertension — renal angioplasty is often highly effective and may be curative in FMD, unlike atherosclerotic renal artery disease, where the primary goal is improved blood pressure control rather than cure.

What the evidence shows

Large randomised trials in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis have shown that angioplasty does not benefit every patient with incidental narrowing — careful selection matters. Patients most likely to benefit are those with resistant hypertension, recurrent flash pulmonary oedema, or a small kidney with preserved viability. Dr. Bhishma Chowdary evaluates each case individually against this evidence rather than treating every detected stenosis.

How is renal angioplasty performed?

  1. Access is obtained through the femoral artery in the groin or, in selected cases, the radial artery in the wrist under local anaesthesia.
  2. A guide catheter is advanced under X-ray guidance to the origin of the renal artery from the aorta.
  3. Contrast dye is injected to confirm the location and severity of the renal artery stenosis using angiography.
  4. A fine guidewire is carefully advanced across the narrowed segment into the renal artery.
  5. A balloon catheter is advanced over the guidewire and inflated at the site of the narrowing to widen the artery.
  6. For atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis, a stent is typically implanted to maintain long-term vessel patency, as balloon angioplasty alone has a high risk of elastic recoil. In patients with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), balloon angioplasty alone is usually sufficient, and stenting is generally avoided because of the younger patient population and excellent angioplasty outcomes.
  7. Final angiography is performed to confirm successful restoration of blood flow and resolution of the pressure gradient across the treated segment.
  8. The catheter is removed and the access site is closed. Patients are typically monitored overnight to assess blood pressure response, kidney function, and recovery before discharge.

What results can be expected?

Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) Blood pressure improves in the majority of appropriately selected patients, although complete normalisation without medication is uncommon. Most patients require fewer antihypertensive medications rather than none. Stabilisation of kidney function, rather than dramatic improvement, is the most realistic outcome in most atherosclerotic cases. Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Often produces more dramatic results. A significant proportion of patients experience major improvement in blood pressure, and complete cure (normal blood pressure without medication) is achievable in a meaningful subset, particularly when treated soon after diagnosis.

Renal angioplasty near you — serving Hyderabad

Renal angioplasty at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli is available to patients from across Gachibowli, Hitech City, Manikonda, Kondapur, Madhapur, Nanakramguda, Financial District, Jubilee Hills, and across Hyderabad, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Bhishma Chowdary works closely with nephrology colleagues to identify appropriate candidates and coordinate ongoing kidney and blood pressure management after the procedure.

Book a renal angioplasty consultation

If you have resistant hypertension despite multiple medications, or have been found to have renal artery narrowing on imaging, call +91-9000352998 for a specialist assessment at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli.

Frequently asked questions

Will renal angioplasty cure my high blood pressure?

This depends on the underlying cause. In fibromuscular dysplasia, a meaningful proportion of patients achieve normal blood pressure without medication after successful angioplasty. In atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, most patients experience improved blood pressure control and often need fewer medications, but complete cure without any medication is less common because underlying essential hypertension and vascular ageing frequently coexist.

How do I know if my high blood pressure is caused by a kidney artery blockage?

Clues that suggest renal artery stenosis include: blood pressure that is very difficult to control despite three or more medications, a sudden worsening of previously stable blood pressure, kidney function that worsens after starting an ACE inhibitor or ARB, an abdominal bruit heard on examination, and unexplained recurrent episodes of sudden severe breathlessness. A renal artery duplex ultrasound or CT angiogram confirms the diagnosis.

Is renal angioplasty safe for kidney function?

The procedure uses contrast dye, which carries a small risk of temporarily affecting kidney function, particularly in patients who already have reduced kidney function. Dr. Bhishma Chowdary takes specific precautions — hydration protocols and minimising contrast volume — to reduce this risk. In appropriately selected patients, the benefit of restoring blood flow to a stenosed kidney generally outweighs this small procedural risk.

Why choose Dr. Bhishma Chowdary at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad?

  • DM Cardiology from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi — one of India's premier cardiac training institutions
  • 13+ years of experience in interventional cardiology with over 1,000 coronary procedures performed
  • Expertise in advanced imaging: IVUS, OCT, FFR, RFR, IFR — used routinely for complex and borderline cases
  • Dedicated hybrid cardiac catheterisation laboratory at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli — equipped with the latest imaging and intervention technology
  • Radial (wrist) access preferred — lower complication risk and faster recovery
  • Same-day results and direct discussion with the treating cardiologist — no waiting for a separate results appointment
  • Presentations at SCAI SHOCK, TCTAP, India Live, and other international cardiology conferences
  • Fluent consultations in English, Hindi, and Telugu

Book a Renal Angioplasty consultation

If you or a family member has been advised to have a Renal Angioplasty — or if you are experiencing chest pain, breathlessness, or unexplained cardiac symptoms — contact Dr. Bhishma Chowdary's clinic at AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

Call: +91-9000352998

Email: bhishmachowdary@gmail.com

Location: AIG Hospitals, Gachibowli, Hyderabad — 500032

Clinic hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

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