From March 1960 through January 1968, 71 patients underwent operations for renovascular hypertension at our center. There were three operative deaths in 94 procedures. Primary nephrectomy was performed in 26 patients. Attempted revascularization of 62 kidneys was successful in 46 (74%). In 13 (87%) of the 15 cases considered operative failures, the patients underwent either secondary nephrectomy (11) or repeat revascularization (two). Based on the results of the final operation, initial blood pressure response (1 to 6 months postoperatively) in the surviving patients indicated 44% cured (30 patients), 40% improved (27), and 16% unchanged (11). The sequential clinical, functional, and anatomic follow-up evaluations to time of death or to date are available in 66 of the 68 patients (97%) who survived operation and form the basis of this report. Fifteen- to 20-year arteriographic follow-up in 16 patients revealed one late neointimal anastomotic stenosis and an additional three aortic suture line false aneurysms in Dacron aortorenal grafts. During this 15- to 23-year follow-up, 71% of atherosclerotic (AS) patients and 23% of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) patients died. Cardiovascular (CV) morbid events occurred in 77% of AS patients and in 19% of FMD patients. The cumulative incidence of death and CV morbid events during follow-up is examined by Kaplan-Meier life tables and Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis in these respective groups to identify preoperative markers predictive of longer event-free survival in relation to blood pressure benefit by operation (for example, focal vs. diffuse AS, presence of cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy seen by electrocardiography, azotemia, smoking, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)