Significant bleeding at kidney resection after experimental denervation

The effects of microsurgical denervation of the kidney on blood loss, bleeding time, platelet count and APT time in standardized kidney resection were studied in rats. The renal nerves running alongside the blood vessels were stained, identified and resected with a microsurgical technique. One week after the denervation, the blood loss and bleeding time at kidney resection were significantly greater than in control rats (without denervation). The bleeding resulted in reduced haemoglobin and haematocrit values, but the platelet count and APT time were unchanged. Platelet aggregation was not influenced by the denervation procedure. The increased bleeding at parenchymal kidney resection in the denervated rats was regarded as a consequence of interrupted nerve supply to the kidney. The effects on bleeding may have implications for renal surgery in humans.