A renal arteriogram is a special type of X-ray picture that helps doctors see the blood vessels in your kidneys. This exam is used for patients who have high blood pressure that may be caused by a kidney problem. It is also helpful in patients who may have a kidney artery that is closed or whose arteries are inflamed.
This procedure is performed by a radiologist who is assisted by specially trained nurses and technologists. Using a needle, the doctor inserts a thin wire into a large artery in the groin area. This wire is used to guide a small tube called a catheter into the large artery leading to your kidneys. Once the catheter is in place, the X-ray dye is injected through the catheter, and X-rays are taken of the arteries.