A comparison of various methods for cooling the kidney.

Various methods for achieving preoperative renal hypothermia were tested and evaluated. A kidney immersed in an oil bath solution at 4 degrees C resulted in the highest rate of contact hyperthermia at a determined safe temperature of cooling medium. The acquired basic temperature curve served as a model for the comparison of other methods tested. The results showed that perfusion hypothermia is most rapid but this method is limited by the number and state of the renal arteries and displays all the risks associated with cannulation of arteries. Covering the kidney with crushed ice led to a sufficiently rapid decrease in temperature but lack of regulation carries the danger of renal damage caused by excessive temperature reduction. The disadvantages of these methods were eliminated using a device developed and tested by the authors.