Occluded Renal Artery

[modern]

Hello,

In relation to my previous question; if a renal artery suffered a complete occlusion, causing a localised ischemia of the kidney -  what would the consequences be once the occlusion was removed and blood flow was restored to the atrophied area of the kidney?  For example would there be any poisons released in to the blood stream.  Or would there be dangerous levels of calcium or potassium secreted from the restored kidney tissue?

Thanks.

[Stephen Liroff, MD]

No, there would not be issues of abnormalities in calcium and/or electrolytes when blood flow is restored.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.

[modern]

Thanks.  Would a high level of calcium or potassium, enter the blood stream, once blood flow was restored in to the ischemic tissue?  Thanks.

[Stephen Liroff, MD]

The answer to your question is related to the amount of time that the artery was obstructed. If completely obstructed for more than fourty minutes, then the kidney tissue fed by that artery starts dying. The longer the obstruction, the less likely that that segment of the kidney will function properly again. Also, the chance that your blood pressure will become elevated on the basis of the damaged kidney disease increases. Usually renal artery obstruction is a fairly slow proscess without symptoms. Acute obstruction may be quite painful and feel very much like a severe kidney infection or stone.
With restoration of flow, there are no poissons released.
Hopefully I have answered your question.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
S. A.Liroff, M.D.