Nephrectomy is surgical removal of a kidney, which is usually indicated in people whose kidney is not functioning properly, in the case of kidney cancer or in an organ donation situation.
Renal ablation surgery can be radical or partial, depending on the cause, and can be performed by open laparoscopy, with faster recovery by the latter option.
Renal removal surgery is indicated in the following situations
Depending on the cause of the need to remove the kidney, your doctor may choose to perform partial or total surgery.
Nephrectomy can be radical (total) or partial. Radical nephrectomy involves the removal of the kidney in its entirety, while partial partial nephrectomy is removed from part of that organ.
The removal of the kidney, the total radical being, could be done by open surgery, which when the doctor makes an incision of about 12 cm; or through laparoscopy, which is a method in which small holes are made that allow the insertion of instruments and a chamber for kidney removal, this technique is less invasive, so recovery is faster.
Preparation for surgery should be guided by the doctor, who usually evaluates the person’s medications and instructions compared to those to be retained before the procedure. It is also necessary to eliminate water and food intake for a certain period before surgery, which should also be indicated by your doctor.
Recovery depends on the type of intervention performed; therefore, if the person has open surgery, it may take about 6 weeks to recover and may need to remain hospitalized for about 1 week.
As with other surgeries, nephrectomy may present risks such as: damage to other organs surrounding the kidney, formation of a hernia in the incision area, loss of bleeding, heart problems, shortness of breath, allergic reaction to anesthesia, and other medications administered during surgery and thrombus formation.