Iliorenal bypass: indications and outcomes following 41 reconstructions

Iliorenal bypass is a nonanatomic means of renal revascularization usually performed in high-risk patients. Its efficacy was assessed in this review of 35 patients (17 males and 18 females, two children and 33 adults) ranging in age 8-84 years, who were subjected to 41 iliorenal bypasses at the University of Michigan Hospital during 1975-2003. Renal artery lesions included arteriosclerosis (n = 20), developmental narrowing (n = 10), arterial fibrodysplasia (n = 3), penetrating trauma (n = 1), and aortorenal dissection associated with Marfan disease (n = 1). All patients had hypertension attributed to their renal artery disease. Twenty patients exhibited renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.8 mg/dL). Primary reasons for selecting an iliorenal reconstruction over a more conventional open revascularization included advanced aortic arteriosclerosis (n = 9); prior aortoaortic, aortoiliac, or aortofemoral reconstruction (n = 7); a small aortic aneurysm not justifying aortic surgery (n = 6); prior aortorenal surgery (n = 6); congenital abdominal aortic coarctation (n = 4); a hostile retroperitoneum (n = 2); or compromised cardiac status (n = 1). Eleven patients had prior ipsilateral renal artery interventions. Iliorenal bypasses were to the right kidney (n = 20), the left kidney (n = 9), and bilateral (n = 12). Conduits were saphenous veins (n = 29), synthetic prostheses (n = 11), or direct renal artery-iliac artery reimplantation (n = 1). Initial bypass patency was 93%. Follow-up averaged 7.5 years. Three early and six late graft complications resulted in eight secondary operations. The mean preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine of all 35 patients did not vary (1.9 vs. 1.8 mg/dL), although on an individual basis renal function improved in eight, remained stable in 21, and deteriorated in six patients. The series' mean preoperative blood pressure of 180/97 mm Hg decreased postoperatively to 140/78 mm Hg (P < 0.001). Hypertension was cured in three patients, improved in 27, and became worse in four. Antihypertensive medication numbers decreased postoperatively, from a median of three to two (P < 0.0001). Surgical mortality was limited to one patient succumbing from perioperative intestinal infarction. Iliorenal bypass is an effective means of renal revascularization in patients not amenable to more conventional open or transluminal procedures.