Should renal artery stenosis be treated using stenting or bypass?

Depends: If the artery is suitable for stenting, that is much simpler and less invasive, done through a 2mm hole in your groin under local anesthesia. Surgery requires an extensive abdominal surgery, clamping the aorta, tying off the renal artery, cutting it off and re-implanting it on the aorta. Renal artery stenosis can lead to difficult to control bp, decreased kidney function and flash pulmonary edema.

Neither, sometimes: The value of revascularizing renal artery stenosis remains quite uncertain. In patients requiring multiple drugs for blood pressure control, after stenting there may be a small decrease in the number of pills needed. Clinical trials to address these questions have not given a clear answer yet.