Renal blood flow and intrarenal distribution of blood flow after decapsulation in the postischemic kidney.

Previous reports suggest the value of renal decapsulation in the prevention of renal failure after acute ischemia. It has been suggested that this response is due to a release of "compartmental" pressure resulting in increased blood flow to the decapsulated kidney. Ten dogs were evaluated following 90 minutes of renal ischemia created by occlusion of the suprarenal aorta. Each animal underwent random unilateral decapsulation, with the contralateral kidney acting as control. Labeled 15 micron microspheres (Se85 and Ce141) were injected into the left ventricle at 15 minutes and one hour following decapsulation in six dogs. In the remaining animals the injection was carried out at 15 minutes and 48 hours. No difference in renal blood flow was found between decapsulated and control kidneys in either group. Similarly, using sectioned kidneys no difference in intrarenal distribution of blood flow was found. These data suggest that the effects caused by decapsulation are not due to hemodynamic alterations.