RENAL CONSEQUENCES OF INFRARENAL AORTIC CROSS-CLAMPING IN HUMANS - INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES

The results of our prospective clinical studies of the consequences of infrarenal aortic cross-clamping in kidneys of patients undergoing su rgery of the abdominal aorta are reviewed in this article. Under gener al anesthesia the infrarenal aortic cross-clamping significantly reduc ed the renal hemodynamics. This reduction persisted even after the rel ease of aortic clamp and could be attributed to protracted renal vasoc onstriction. Vasoconstriction was not related to the increased sympath etic activity in kidneys, since renal sympathetic blockade by epidural anesthesia did not prevent deterioration in hemodynamics following th e aortic cross-clamping.