Objectives: To determine whether renal artery clamping and division of the left renal vein affects renal function in the patients who undergo repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Methods: Between 1992 and 2000, 267 patients had open surgery for infrarenal AAA. Of these, 22 (8%) required temporary bilateral (15) or unilateral (7) renal artery clamping. 8 also had the left renal vein divided, three of which were re-anastomosed.
Results: Renal artery clamping and/or renal vein divisions did not affect the incidence of complications and long term renal failure.
Conclusions: Clamping of the renal arteries and/or renal vein division during AAA surgery does not in itself compromise short or long term renal function.