Atherosclerotic renovascular disease in the elderly: angioplasty with stenting versus reconstructive surgery

We reviewed our experience of surgical and radiological intervention in 43 patients between 1987 and 1994 with angiographic renovascular disease. We retrospectively compared the effect of angioplasty with stenting versus reconstructive surgery on renal function and blood pressure in those patients with significant atherosclerotic renovascular stenosis. Twenty patients with moderate/non ostial stenosis (less than 60% stenosis) and two with fibromuscular displasia underwent renal angioplasty only. Indications for intervention were refractory hypertension (n = 20), flash pulmonary oedema (n = 8) and/or renal salvage (n = 31). All patients were hypertensive. Angioplasty with stenting was performed in ten patients, (2 female, 8 male), mean age 69 years, 9 with bilateral disease. Plasma creatinine was greater than 240 mumol/L in seven patients. A unilateral procedure was performed in 9 patients. Unilateral reconstructive surgery was performed in eleven patients (4 female, 7 male), mean age 63 years. Plasma creatinine was greater than 240 mumol/L in eight patients. Ten had bilateral disease. In the angioplasty/stenting group there were three technical failure. The mortality rates in the angioplasty/stenting group and surgical group were 10% and 27% respectively. Fifty-one and 165 patient months had elapsed in the stenting and surgical groups respectively. Blood pressure fell in each group, mean decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) 16 mmHg (p = 0.025) and 30 mmHg (p < 0.01) respectively. Improvement or stabilisation of renal function was achieved in 67% and 91% of cases respectively. Two surgical patients were able to discontinue haemodialysis. The two methods of treatment appear to be equally effective in lowering blood pressure. Reconstructive surgery offers greater improvement in renal function with the possibility of withdrawal of dialysis, at the expense of a higher mortality rate.