Deliberate Renal Ischemia: A Valuable and Safe Adjunct During Operations upon the Abdominal Aorta

Eleven patients are reported in whom operative suprarenal aortic occlusion was employed. Periods of bilateral renal ischemia ranged from 10 to 120 minutes. Postoperative renal function was excellent in all patients undergoing ischemic periods of 34 minutes or less. Renal hypothermia, accomplished by perfusing the kidneys with cold Ringer's solution, was used in 1 patient in whom blood flow to both kidneys was interrupted for 50 minutes. Renal function after operation in this patient was also excellent. Anuria resulted in the death of 1 patient following 120 minutes of bilateral normothermic renal ischemia. The advantages of suprarenal aortic occlusion and deliberate renal ischemia during operation upon the abdominal aorta are discussed.