Surgical management of renovascular hypertension in children and young adults: a 13-year experience

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the early and mid-term outcomes of surgery for renovascular hypertension (RVH) at our institution, within the last 13years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who underwent surgery for RVH, between 2005 and 2017. The age at operation, clinical characteristics, cause of arterial stenosis, diagnostic workup, surgical management and outcomes during the follow-up were analysed. The continuous variables were expressed as meanstandard deviation. RESULTS: Twelve female and 7 male patients underwent surgery for RVH. Their mean age was 17.07 +/- 11.9years (range 4-42years). Nine patients had renal arterial stenosis, and 10 patients had midaortic syndrome (MAS). Aortorenal bypass with the saphenous vein was performed in 6 patients with renal arterial stenosis and 1 patient with MAS. An isolated thoracic aorta-abdominal aortic bypass was performed in 1 patient with MAS, and thoracic aorta-abdominal aortic bypass combined with unilateral aortarenal bypass was performed in 9 patients with MAS. The other surgical procedures performed were 2 autotransplantations and 2 unilateral nephrectomies. Among the patients with MAS, 4 underwent reoperation. The mean follow-up duration was 45.58 +/- 32.7months. Hypertension was cured in 3 patients and improved in 14 patients. The postoperative follow-up creatinine levels were similar to preoperative creatinine levels. All bypasses were patent on mid-term follow-up. One patient who underwent aortorenal bypass died 14months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management is a suitable option for patients with RVH, who were unresponsive to medical and/or endovascular management. Surgical methods are safe and effective in children and young adults with RVH.