Renal revascularization in high-risk patients: the role of iliac renal bypass

Between 1984 and 1989, 29 iliac renal artery bypasses were performed in 29 patients (mean age 67.8 years) with severe renovascular disease due to atheroma. The indication for renal artery reconstruction was hypertension in all patients, which was associated with kidney failure in 16 cases. In six cases, reconstruction was performed after failure or complications of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The bypass was constructed with polytetrafluoroethylene in 24 cases (83%) and vein graft in five cases (17%). There was no postoperative mortality. All bypasses were found to be patent on duplex scanning or digital subtraction arteriograms. One patient was lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was 23.2 months. One patient died of acute kidney failure, probably related to occlusion of the bypass. Hypertension improved in 22 cases (79%), was cured in two cases (7%), and remained unchanged in four (14%). Renal function remained unchanged in six cases (40%) and improved in nine (60%). Iliac-to-renal artery bypass seems to be the surgical renal revascularization modality best adapted to high-risk patients or those who have severe atheroma. Additionally, this technique enables rapid treatment of failures or complications of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the renal artery.