Diminished operative morbidity and mortality in renal revascularization.

From 1974 to 1980, one hundred consecutive patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease underwent revascularization. There were two operative deaths and eight postoperative complications. This low operative morbidity is attributed to preoperative screening, correction of existing coronary or cerebrovascular disease, and reliance on methods of revascularization that obviate operation on a badly diseased aorta. The results in 78 patients with renovascular hypertension were 40% cured, 51% improved, and 9% failed. In 22 patients in whom revascularization was performed to preserve renal function, the postoperative serum creatinine levels were improved in 19 patients, remained stable in two patients, and increased in one patient.