Cortical oxygen pressure during acute venous kidney obstruction.

Different degrees of obstruction to the renal venous drainage were produced in rabbits, and the cortical oxygen pressures in the kidney measured with the multiple-wire surface electrode of Kessler and Luebbers. Sudden complete occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) above the renal vein, or above and below the renal vein simultaneously, produced a slight decrease of about 27%. Sudden complete occlusion of the renal vein itself caused a severe decrease of 67% (obstruction near the IVC) or 100% (obstruction near the kidney). One hour later different degrees of incomplete recovery were found. The PO2 curves for the renal cortex revealed different pressure-dependent pathophysiological changes in the microcirculation. The multiple-wire surface electrode may well prove to be of use during renal surgery in which venous obstruction is a critical factor.