Renal artery stenosis physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Shivam Singla, M.D.[2]

A “whooshing” noise (bruit) can be heard over the abdomen.

Physical examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal except for the bruit that is heard in most of the cases on auscultation^[1].

• General appearance of patients with renal artery stenosis appears stable with some discomfort seen in cases due to resistant hypertension.

• High blood pressure with normal pulse pressure, tachycardia.

• Skin examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal

• HEENT examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal but in some cases, vision changes or headache may be present as a complication of hypertension.

• Neck examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal

• Pulmonary examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal but in some cases, there may be the presence of flash pulmonary edema.
• Fine/coarse crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases bilaterally

• Cardiovascular examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal with normal S1, S2, no murmurs, gallops.

• Abdominal examination: The presence of bruit is a characteristic finding seen in patients with renal artery stenosis

• Back examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal.

• Genitourinary examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal.

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal.

• Extremities examination of patients with renal artery stenosis is usually normal.

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