Nephrectomy is surgery to remove the kidney, which is usually indicated for people whose kidney is not functioning properly, in case of kidney cancer or in case of organ donation.
Renal ablation can be total or partial, depending on the cause, and can be done by open surgery or laparoscopy, with faster recovery thanks to this method.
Renal ablation surgery is indicated in the following situations
Depending on the cause of the kidney removal, your doctor may choose to have partial or full surgery.
Nephrectomy may be thoracic or partial. Total nephrectomy involves the removal of the entire kidney, while partial nephrectomy removes only part of the organ.
The removal of the kidney, either partial or total, can be done by open surgery, when the doctor makes an incision of about 12 cm, or by laparoscopy, a method in which holes are made that allow the insertion of instruments and a chamber to remove the kidney. This technique is less invasive and therefore recovery is faster.
The preparation of the surgery should be guided by the doctor, who usually evaluates the medications the person is taking and gives indications that they should be discontinued before the procedure. In addition, it is necessary to stop the intake of fluids and food for a certain period before surgery, which should also be indicated by the doctor.
Recovery depends on the type of procedure you have, and if the person undergoes open surgery, recovery may take about 6 weeks and may need to stay in the hospital for about a week.
As with other surgeries, nephrectomy may present risks, such as injuries to other organs near the kidney, the formation of a hernia at the site of the incision, blood loss, heart problems and breathing difficulties, an allergic reaction to anesthesia, and other medications administered during surgery. and thrombus formation.