Surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension in children

Abstract

The main reason for renovascular hypertension in children is ideopathic fibrous and fibromuscular displasia. The pathogenetic classification of the disease was worked out in 1971 by Harrison and McCormac. Of all cases of hypertension in children between 5 and 20% are of renovascular origin. The illness demands an absolute necessity for treatment. The concept of management of renovascular hypertension includes the conservative treatment as well as angioplasty and especially the surgical reconstruction of the arteries. Nephrectomy should be considered as the treatment of last resort. For the surgical reconstruction of arteries a variety of techniques are available. Aortorenal bypasses using autologous arterial or venous grafts are expecially suitable in surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension in children. Results given in literature of the management of 334 children with renovascular hypertension and 8 own cases were evaluated by us according to the criteria of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. In the majority of surgical treated children a substantial improvement in the state of health, or cure, could be achieved.