VISUALIZATION OF THE RENAL ARTERY. A COMPARISON OF TRANSLUMBAR AND PERCUTANEOUS RETROGRADE CATHETER APPROACHES, SINGLE-FILM AND SERIOGRAPHIC TECHNICS

Renal arteriograms were performed by both percutaneous translumbar single film and percutaneous transfemoral catheter seriographic technics on each of 29 hypertensive patients with suspected renal arterial disease. Comparison of the renal arteriograms obtained by these two methods demonstrates [see figure in the PDF file] that the transfemoral catheter seriographic technic is a simpler and more reliable procedure and results in better visualization of the renal artery. Ninety-three per cent of the studies by this method resulted in excellent diagnostic renal arteriograms, whereas only 60 per cent of the studies utilizing the translumbar technic were of equal quality. Pathologic and congenital abnormalities were also better demonstrated with the transfemoral catheter seriographic technic. The advantages and pitfalls of both methods have been discussed.