Prevention of vasospasms during extensive renal surgery. An experimental study in rats

Six methods for prevention of renal arterial vasospasms, due to extensive surgical trauma are compared in an experimental study in rats. The 'proximal transit time' was chosen as a measure for renal arterial flow 1, 5, 10 and 15 min after a standard surgical trauma. Xylocaine infiltration around the renal pedicle was least effective. Hydration of the rat, preoperative mannitol perfusion, and preoperative phenoxybenzamine treatment gave comparable effects and were significantly better than no treatment. The topical application of papaverine (1 mg/kg) around the renal pedicle did significantly better than the above-mentioned methods. The most effective treatment, however, was the combination of hydration, mannitol perfusion and papaverine application around the renal pedicle.