Sonography of the renal arteries: left lateral decubitus position

Despite the routine visualization of many of the major branches of the abdominal aorta using current state of the art sonography equipment, the renal arteries are still infrequently seen in normal patients and are rarely seen in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Longitudinal scanning in the left lateral decubitus position will frequently visualize the origin of the renal arteries from the aorta and/or the right renal artery as it crosses under the inferior vena cava. Using this technique the renal arteries in 16 of 20 patients were visualized. The experience with this technique so far is limited to three patients with aortic aneurysm. In two, the relation of the aneurysm to the renal arteries could be delineated.