Private kidney (renal) embolisation, by a consultant interventional radiologist.
A minimally invasive alternative - or precursor - to kidney surgery. Coils, particles, glue, Onyx or Amplatzer plugs, delivered through a microcatheter by a named consultant IR - for renal cancer, angiomyolipoma, bleeding, AV malformation or ADPKD.
Indicative pricing
What a private renal embolisation costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner IR centres.
In short
£4,500–£7,500, typically a one-night stay.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-operative RCC embolisation | £5,000–£8,000 | 90–120 min | 1 night stay |
| Selective AML embolisation | £4,500–£7,500 | 60–90 min | 1 night stay |
| Palliative RCC embolisation | £4,000–£6,500 | 60–90 min | 1–2 night stay |
| Renal trauma / iatrogenic bleeding | £5,000–£8,000 | 60–120 min | Inpatient |
| Renal AV malformation / fistula embolisation | £5,500–£8,000 | 90–120 min | 1 night stay |
| ADPKD native kidney embolisation (pre-transplant) | £5,000–£7,500 | 90 min | 1–2 night stay |
| Consultation and imaging review | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by which IR consultant does the case, by the number and type of embolic used (coils, particles, glue, Onyx, Amplatzer plugs), and by length of inpatient stay.
The problem
The right IR consultant, the right embolic, the right timing.
Renal embolisation is one of the highest-value services in interventional radiology - and one of the most operator-dependent. The material, the selectivity and the timing (pre-op, palliative, urgent) matter more than the hospital brand.
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Not sure embolisation is right?
For an AML under 4cm, watchful waiting or partial nephrectomy may be better. We say so before you commit to an IR procedure.
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Worried about kidney function?
Super-selective microcatheter technique targets only the abnormal or bleeding vessel - most patients keep the rest of the kidney working.
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Want it done properly?
A named consultant IR on the BSIR register, a dedicated angiography suite, and every embolic on the shelf - coils, particles, glue, Onyx and plugs.
When it helps
When renal embolisation is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a scheduled procedure.
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Renal cell carcinoma (pre-op)
Devascularises large or hypervascular RCC before radical or partial nephrectomy - reduces intraoperative blood loss, especially in tumours over 10cm.
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Angiomyolipoma over 4cm
Benign but vascular renal tumour with a real rupture risk (Wunderlich syndrome). Selective embolisation preserves nephrons compared with partial nephrectomy.
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Palliative RCC
Definitive palliation for unresectable RCC - bleeding control, pain relief and shrinkage when surgery is not an option.
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Renal trauma (grade IV–V)
Active bleeding on CT after blunt or penetrating renal injury - super-selective embolisation preserves as much kidney as possible.
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Iatrogenic bleeding
Bleeding after renal biopsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), ureteroscopy or transplant biopsy - the first-line rescue in most UK units.
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Renal AVM or AV fistula
Congenital or post-traumatic arterio-venous shunts - glue, Onyx or coils close the abnormal connection while preserving surrounding kidney.
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ADPKD native kidney
Renal artery embolisation shrinks very enlarged polycystic kidneys before transplant - NICE-endorsed alternative to open nephrectomy.
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Red flag: haemodynamic instability
Ruptured AML or major renal trauma with shock is an emergency - same-day A&E or major trauma centre, not a scheduled booking.
Procedure options
Renal embolisation is not one procedure - it is a family of them.
What each option on the table actually involves - and which embolic material fits which problem.
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Pre-operative embolisation
Coils and particles devascularise a large RCC 24–48 hours before nephrectomy. The surgeon operates on a bloodless field - less transfusion, faster case.
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Selective AML embolisation
Microcatheter super-selective delivery of particles and coils occludes the abnormal aneurysmal vessels within an angiomyolipoma while sparing healthy nephrons.
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Palliative RCC embolisation
Whole-kidney or tumour-bed embolisation to control haematuria, pain and paraneoplastic symptoms in unresectable disease.
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Trauma / bleeding embolisation
Super-selective coil or particle embolisation of the bleeding branch - the standard non-operative rescue for grade IV–V renal trauma and post-procedural bleeds.
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AVM / fistula embolisation
NBCA glue, Onyx or detachable coils close arterio-venous connections. Often a single, definitive procedure.
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ADPKD native kidney embolisation
Main renal artery occlusion with coils or Amplatzer plug shrinks huge polycystic kidneys, avoiding open nephrectomy before a transplant.
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Renal artery aneurysm
Coil packing, stent-graft or plug across the aneurysm neck - chosen by anatomy, sometimes combined with covered stenting.
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Technical success rates are above 95%.
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Post-embolisation syndrome is expected
Flank pain (sometimes severe), low-grade fever, malaise, nausea and raised inflammatory markers for 24–72 hours are the rule, not a complication. Managed with strong analgesia, anti-emetics and fluids inpatient.
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Non-target embolisation
Embolic can travel to healthy renal tissue and cause a small area of infarction. With super-selective microcatheter technique this is usually clinically insignificant.
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Contrast reaction and contrast nephropathy
Iodinated contrast is used. In chronic kidney disease the team pre-hydrates and uses the smallest possible volume - eGFR is checked before and after.
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Access-site problems
Femoral groin haematoma, pseudoaneurysm or arterial thrombosis are uncommon. Bed rest for 4–6 hours, careful haemostasis and ultrasound review if concerned.
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Transient acute kidney injury
A small, usually reversible drop in eGFR after the procedure is common. Persistent AKI is rare when the embolisation is super-selective.
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Infection and abscess
Infected infarcted tissue can rarely form an abscess in the weeks after embolisation - new fever or worsening pain warrants imaging.
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Delayed re-bleeding
Uncommon after a technically successful embolisation. Recurrence is more likely with AVMs and complex trauma - hence the follow-up scan.
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Transient hypertension
A short-lived rise in blood pressure can follow renal ischaemia and usually settles within days - the team monitors and treats as needed.
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Red flags after discharge
Worsening flank pain uncontrolled by oral analgesia, high fever, rigors, groin swelling or new blood in the urine - call the IR team or attend A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your IR procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever embolic was used, the note the interventional radiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Angiography language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and target vessel
Why the procedure was done - RCC pre-op, AML, bleeding, ADPKD - and exactly which renal artery or segmental branch was targeted.
- 02 Technique
Access, catheters and embolic used
Femoral or radial access, sheath size, microcatheter used, and the embolic chosen - coils, particles (size and brand), glue, Onyx or Amplatzer plug.
- 03 Findings
Angiographic result and completeness
Pre and post embolisation angiogram findings, whether stasis was achieved, any non-target flow, and whether the procedural goal was met.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, follow-up imaging and review
Read this first: expected recovery, when follow-up CT or MR is planned, and - if pre-operative - when the surgeon operates next.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for renal embolisation is typically approved when medically indicated - pre-op RCC, symptomatic AML, bleeding, AVM or pre-transplant ADPKD - with a referral from a consultant urologist, oncologist or transplant surgeon.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about kidney embolisation.
Quick answers on pain, cost, anaesthetic, kidney function, and how long recovery really takes.
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What is a kidney (renal) embolisation?
A minimally invasive procedure performed by a consultant interventional radiologist. Through a small puncture in the groin artery, a microcatheter is guided into a renal artery branch and the target vessel is blocked with coils, particles, glue, Onyx or a plug - devascularising a tumour, stopping bleeding, or shrinking a polycystic kidney.
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Why would I need one?
The commonest UK indications are: pre-operative devascularisation of large renal cell cancers before nephrectomy, treatment of angiomyolipomas over 4cm to prevent rupture, control of bleeding after trauma or a renal biopsy/PCNL, closure of AV malformations, and pre-transplant shrinkage of ADPKD kidneys.
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How much does a private renal embolisation cost in London?
Roughly £4,000–£8,000 depending on complexity - a straightforward AML embolisation sits at the lower end, a pre-operative RCC case or complex AVM at the higher. Consultation and imaging review is £250–£450.
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Is it done under local or general anaesthetic?
Almost all cases are done under local anaesthetic to the groin plus light IV sedation, with an anaesthetist present. General anaesthetic is reserved for anxious patients, children or particularly long or complex AVM procedures.
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What is post-embolisation syndrome?
A predictable cluster of flank pain, low-grade fever, nausea and malaise that starts within hours and lasts 24–72 hours. It is caused by inflammation in the devascularised tissue - not an infection. It is why almost everyone stays one night for pain control with strong analgesia, anti-emetics and IV fluids.
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Will I lose kidney function?
Modern super-selective microcatheter technique targets only the abnormal or bleeding vessel and spares healthy nephrons - most patients see only a small, temporary drop in eGFR. Whole-kidney embolisation (for palliative RCC or ADPKD before transplant) does sacrifice function, and that is the point.
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How long is recovery and time off work?
Most people go home the day after the procedure and are back to office work within a week. Heavy lifting and exercise wait two to three weeks. If embolisation was pre-operative, the surgery follows within 24–48 hours and dictates the longer recovery.
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Is it available on the NHS?
Yes - renal embolisation is a standard NHS interventional radiology service, delivered by BSIR consultant IRs at every major UK tertiary centre.