What is renal artery embolism?
Renal artery embolism is due to the migration of a blood clot from the heart or an aortic plaque into the renal tissue.
It consists of a severe obstruction of the artery that carries blood to the kidney. On the other hand, a mild obstruction can have consequences on kidney function, and if the obstruction is total it can cause permanent kidney failure.
Symptoms of renal artery embolism
It should be noted that if one kidney is not functioning, you may not notice any symptoms because the other kidney can filter the blood. If the second kidney is not functioning, the renal artery blockage may generate symptoms of acute renal failure. Other signs, which often come on suddenly, may include:
- Abdominal or back pain
- Abrupt reduction in urine output
- Blood in the urine
- Pain on one side
Back or abdominal pain may be a symptom.
Can it be prevented?
In a large number of cases, renal artery embolism cannot be prevented. The most important way to reduce the risk is to stop smoking.
It should be noted that people with a high risk of developing blood clots may need to take anticoagulants. It is also important to control diseases related to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), as this may reduce the risk.
What are the causes of renal artery embolism?
Depending on the level of obstruction, the causes may vary. For example, if the obstruction of blood flow is complete, it can lead to permanent renal failure. In the case of a milder obstruction, it may cause problems in the functioning of the kidney.
What is the treatment?
In many cases, no treatment is necessary since blood clots may improve naturally with time. If the obstruction is discovered within a few hours or if the affected kidney is the only functional one, an attempt may be made to open the artery. In this case, in an attempt to unblock the artery and dissolve the clot, drugs that break up the clot (thrombolytics) are applied, thus allowing blood flow through the artery to be restored. Medications that prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants) such as warfarin are also applied.
In certain cases patients may need to undergo surgical repair of the renal artery or remove the blockage with a tube (catheter), which is inserted into the artery. In addition, treatment for acute renal failure, such as temporary dialysis, may be necessary.