David M. Hume memorial lecture. Surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension

Renal artery occlusive disease is the most common form of surgically correctable hypertension. Considerable scientific advances have improved our understanding of the pathophysiologic sequellae of a renal artery stenosis, the means of documenting the functional importance of such lesions, and the role of alternative surgical approaches in treating this disease. This work assesses the historical basis for the surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension.

A review of the American literature on the subject of renovascular hypertension was undertaken, with particular attention to early work emanating from the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Michigan, and Vanderbilt University. These three institutions had considerable influence on the evolving techniques of operative intervention for renovascular hypertension.

The contemporary surgical management of renal artery stenotic disease causing secondary hypertension includes recognition of the heterogeneic character renal artery diseases, documentation of the functional significance of the stenoses, and performance of a properly chosen operation. Surgical therapy benefits 85% to 95% of properly selected patients having renovascular hypertension.