Computed tomography of experimental acute renal ischemia.

The potential role of computed tomography (CT) in the detection of acute renal ischemia was assessed in nine mongrel dogs. Ischemia was produced by inflation of a balloon catheter in the main renal artery, with scans performed before, during, and after a 60-minute period of ischemia. A small but consistent increase in the attenuation value of ischemic renal parenchyma was observed. When intravenous contrast material was given, the ischemic kidney was markedly less enhanced than the contralateral, nonischemic kidney. By using the contralateral kidney for comparison, the ischemic kidney could be identified with or without the use of a contrast agent. Although calculations of mean pixel values were necessary when a contrast agent was not injected, the abnormal kidney could be easily recognized from the CT images themselves when intravenous contrast material was given. Because of the consistency with which the abnormalities were observed, we recommend a clinical trial of CT in suspected acute renal ischemia.