Definition:
Nephrectomy is the surgical procedure during which the kidney or a part of it is removed to cure the disease. Every individual has two kidneys that make urine. In this procedure, the diseased kidney is removed and the other one then makes enough urine for your needs. When there is a need to carry on partial Nephrectomy, only the diseased part is removed. On the other hand, the radical Nephrectomy involves removal of entire kidney, section of tube leading to bladder, gland sitting atop kidney and fatty tissues surrounding it.
You will be given general anesthesia that makes the patient asleep for the entire operation. An incision is made in the skin, either in your stomach or in your back depending on the kidney disease. After that, the surgeon will discuss details with you. The kidney is taken out after binding important blood vessels and urine tubes (ureters) that drain the urine. Finally, the skin wound is stitched up.
Purpose:
- Nephrectomy is performed on patients that have cancer in the kidney (renal cell carcinoma). It is a disease in which cysts relocate healthy kidney tissue (polycystic kidney disease) and solemn kidney infections.
- It can also be used to remove a healthy kidney from a donor to perform kidney transplantation.
Precautions:
As the kidney is known for sifting wastes and fluid from the bloodstream, it is critical to life. You will be required to do a complete bed rest for few days and will be refrained from driving for some weeks. The patient has to stay away from ding heavy jobs, so as not to put pressure on the kidney.
Pre and Post Care:
Before the procedure, your physician will ask you to stop smoking. You might also have to loose weight, in case you are obese. If you have heart problem or blood pressure, there is a need to inform the doctor. After being admitted to the hospital, you will have to undergo a complete physical examination. You would also be asked to stop all the earlier medications, until the treatment is complete.
The patients are given pain relievers for stop numbness, swelling and uneasiness in the area of incision. Your doctor will encourage you to do breathing exercises to avoid breathing problem and pneumonia.
Risk Factors:
Nephrectomy is one of the important operations that might arouse certain risk factors after completion of the surgery.
- Bruising of the wound
- Damage to blood vessels
- Chest infections
- Post-operative pneumonia
Hospital Stay:
The length of hospital stay depends on the kind of Nephrectomy procedure carried out. A patient undergone laparoscopic radical Nephrectomy can be released within two to four days after surgery. Whereas, the traditional open Nephrectomy patients are hospitalized for approximately a week. Even the recovery time varies from three to six weeks.
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