Effect of acute occlusion of left renal vein on the kidney: an experimental study in dogs.

To study the effects of acute ligation of the left renal vein an experimental study was carried out on 16 Mongrel dogs out of 18 of which 2 had died postoperatively. The right kidney served as control. Changes immediately after ligation were recorded; subsequently the dogs were sacrificed in 4 groups comprising 4 in each at intervals of 24 hours, one week, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. Both the kidneys were removed and gross and microscopic changes were noted. In all cases atrophy of the ligated kidney due to tubular atrophy and fibrosis were seen in spite of good collaterals. It is concluded that left renal vein ligation in dogs is not safe for the kidney, though it is not fatal.