Based on the retrospective analysis of 38 cases of renovascular hypertension treated by surgical intervention, the following indications are proposed for arterial reconstructive surgery: younger age of patient, short duration of hypertension, renin-mediated hypertension and extent and functional significance of the obstructing arterial lesion, favorable level of renal function in the affected side, and renal function threatened by advanced progressive vascular disease, surgically correctable lesion, and focal, unilateral renal arterial atherosclerosis without generalized atherosclerosis, good surgical risk, and hypertension not responding to medical treatment. Although the clinical use of the angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor and induction of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty can provide a new approach to non-surgical treatment for renovascular hypertension, the long-term use of antihypertensive drugs induces gradual decrease in renal function. Surgical treatment is best reserved for the patient on whom the available data meet the above criteria for vascular surgery.