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Duplex renal ultrasound or renal artery ultrasound exams use sound waves to produce pictures of the renal arteries, the arteries that carry blood to the kidney. These arteries may narrow or become blocked, called Renal Artery Stenosis, and this may result in kidney damage or hypertension (high blood pressure) This test helps to detect blockages or narrowing of the arteries.
Risk factors for renal artery stenosis are aging, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, nicotine, family history, and lack of exercise.
You will lie on your back with your abdomen exposed. A gel will be applied to your abdomen, and an ultrasound transducer will be pressed rubbed across your abdomen in order to obtain images of your blood vessels. You may be asked to lie on each side to obtain images of the kidneys. You should not feel any major discomfort during a renal artery ultrasound. Some slight discomfort is occasionally felt from the pressure of the transducer on your abdomen. A renal artery ultrasound generally takes 45 minutes to complete.
THE DAY BEFORE YOUR TEST:
1-AVOID CAFFEINE (coffee, tea, colas, chocolate) or CARBONATED (fizzy) water, colas, or beer.
2-NO GAS PRODUCING FOODS such as milk, sour cream, corn, dried or fresh beans fried foods,cabbage, broccoli, eggs, and nuts.
3-YOU MAY EAT soft foods, baked meats (chicken, pork, or fish) baked potatoes, jello, pudding, toast, chicken noodle soup, crackers, green beans
THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR TEST:
1-Do NOT eat or drink after midnight
2-Take an anti-gas medication before going to bed (such as GAS-X, or Mylanta Gas).
3-If you are diabetic and take insulin, take only HALF of your normal dose the night before your test and NO insulin the morning of the test
4-If you take oral medications for diabetes, DO NOT take these medications the night before the test or the morning of your test.
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