Renal hypothermia: in vivo and ex vivo.

Temporary occlusion of the renal artery may be necessary for operations to remove renal calculi in situ, such as partial nephrectomy, nephrolithotomy, and extended pyelolithotomy. Performance of these operations requires an understanding of renal responses to warm ischemia and available methods of protecting the kidney in situ when the period of arterial occlusion exceeds that which may be safely tolerated. Methods of extracorporeal renal preservation are also reviewed because autotransplantation and bench surgery may occasionally be employed to treat patients with renal calculous disease.