Renal preservation by hypothermic perfusion. III. The lack of influence of pulsatile flow

Rabbit kidneys were perfused at 5 °C with a plasma-like solution containing dextran 70 and bovine serum albumin, and were autografted 24 hr later. One experimental group was perfused at a constant pressure of 40 mm Hg, while the second group was perfused with a pulsatile pressure having a root-mean-square (rms) equivalent of 40 mm Hg; the pulse pressure was 15 mm Hg and the pulse rate 60 min^?1 The behaviour of the two groups during perfusion and after transplantation was similar. It is concluded that pulsatile flow is without benefit during renal preservation by hypothermic perfusion.