[Renal artery occlusion: surgical revascularization]

Five patients were treated for renal artery occlusion, as a result of embolism (2 patients), thrombosis of a stenosed vessel (1 patient) or acute occlusion during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (2 patients). Three patients had poorly controlled hypertension. One patient was anuric. Patients were treated operatively in 4 cases and non operatively in 1 case. There were no death and no renal failure that necessitated chronic hemodialysis. All bypasses except one remained patent. Blood pressure increased in the patient with the bypass occlusion and was reduced in all four other patients. Renal artery occlusion does not necessarily cause renal infarction. Evaluation of renal viability is necessary before decision of revascularization. Surgical exploration seems the best predictive factor.