Renal revascularization by splenic artery implantation in the dog

36 mongrels were subjected to splenic artery implantation into the left kidney. A stenosis of the left renal artery was created in 33 of the dogs. The revascularization process from the implanted artery was studied by angiography in vivo and ex vivo, by histological examination and by blood flow measurements. After creation of the stenosis and eventual occlusion of the left renal artery, newly formed intrarenal vessels could be demonstrated next to the implanted artery. These vessels formed communications between the splenic and intrarenal arteries. The experimental animals survived contralateral nephrectomy and ligature of the ipsilateral renal artery with a slight or moderate elevation of the serum creatinine level, provided that a slowly progressing stenosis of the renal artery was created.