Everything You Need To Know About Kidney Removal (Nephrectomy) Surgery Treatment

What is the reason for Kidney Removal?

Nephrectomy procedures are most frequently performed to remove kidney tumors. A kidney tumor might be malignant or benign (noncancerous).

If a person's kidney is the cause of recurring infections or is no longer functioning, they may require a nephrectomy. Surgeons also do nephrectomies in order to remove a healthy kidney for a kidney donation.

What are the types of Nephrectomy?

Nephrectomy can be of two types as far as the diseased kidney is concerned namely partial and radical. Partial nephrectomy involves the removal of only the injured or diseased part of the kidney, whereas the radical nephrectomy removes the complete kidney with the section of the tube connecting to the bladder or ureter, the adrenal gland which sits at the top of the kidney and the fatty tissue around the kidney. When both kidneys are removed simultaneously, it is known as a bilateral nephrectomy. And the procedure of removing a healthy kidney from a donor for the purpose of transplantation is known as donor nephrectomy.

What are the procedures before Nephrectomy?

Your healthcare professional will provide you with preparation instructions prior to kidney removal surgery. A few days prior to the procedure, you'll need to stop taking several medications, like blood thinners. Additionally, you'll probably be told by your surgeon to abstain from food and beverages the night before the surgery.

Your healthcare practitioner will take blood a few days before surgery. This test establishes your baseline kidney function and blood counts as well as your blood type in case you require a blood transfusion.

How is kidney removal surgery performed?

Laparoscopic or open surgery may be performed by your doctor. You will be given general anesthesia (medication to keep you sleeping) before any kidney removal surgery to make sure you don't feel a thing.

Your surgeon will make one or more tiny incisions in your side or belly during laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Your surgeon makes an incision and inserts a long wand with a camera (laparoscope).

He uses a huge screen to display the laparoscope's camera picture.

Using the picture from the camera and tiny surgical instruments, the affected area or kidney may be removed.

Using tiny, self-dissolving stitches the surgeon will close the wounds.

Your surgeon makes a single abdominal incision during an open nephrectomy.

Either the whole or the diseased part of your kidney is removed.

Stitches are used to close the wound.