Intravenous digital subtraction angiography for preoperative evaluation of patients with extensive renal calculus disease

ABSTRACT

This study was done to determine whether intravenous digital subtraction angiography could reliably image the main renal arterial supply in patients with extensive renal calculus disease and compromised renal function. Thirteen patients undergoing complex intrarenal surgery for calculus disease, who otherwise would have been evaluated preoperatively with standard catheter arteriography, instead underwent intravenous digital subtraction angiography. The images obtained were found to have been accurately interpreted in all cases, as determined definitively at the time of renal exploration. T h e authors conclude that intravenous digital subtraction angiography is a reliable alternative arterial imaging procedure in patients with complex renal calculus disease and compromised renal function.