[Renal hypertension - a threatening complication of blunt kidney injuries]

The therapeutic management of renal trauma is mainly determined by the type and grade of kidney damage. However, imminent complications of renal trauma should already be considered during the primary therapy. The posttraumatic development of the arterial blood pressure was analysed in 153 kidney injuries by a retrospective study during a period of 17 years. Posttraumatic high blood pressure was found in 17 of 86 cases (19.7%) being managed by conservative therapy, and most of them had a grade I-renal trauma (classification according to Hodges). On the contrary, those with a primary operative therapy i.e. when the kidney could be saved or had to be removed, did not show high blood pressure. The high frequency of late complications after conservative treatment of renal trauma supports the necessity of a more active therapy even in slightly damaged kidney.