Kidney removal surgery, which is called a nephrectomy by doctors, is necessary for a number of different reasons. The most common is kidney failure, which simply means a kidney has become diseased and damaged so badly that it no longer functions. Kidney failure is also called renal failure, renal insufficiency or kidney insufficiency.
A severe kidney infection will sometimes impair or destroy kidney function to a degree that kidney removal surgery is necessary. There two types of kidney infections: acute and chronic. Acute infections happen fast, present severe symptoms, and then go away. An acute kidney infection is frequently the result of germs that get into the bladder and then migrate upward through the ureters into the kidneys.
A chronic kidney infection, on the other hand, develops over many years and grows steadily worse. Unfortunately, there are no early warning signs and someone who has a chronic kidney infection usually doesn't know it until there has been serious damage and function has been greatly impaired. If this type of infection isn't treated, it can lead to total kidney failure, requiring a transplant or a lifetime of dialysis.
The other typical seasons for removing a kidney include
• kidney cancer
• a serious injury or trauma to the kidneys
• birth defects
There may also be instances when an individual donates a kidney to someone who needs a kidney transplant.
Kidney removal surgery is a major procedure and is done under general anesthesia. Currently there are three basic types of kidney removal surgery:
A simple nephrectomyis the removal of the kidney itself.
A partial nephrectomyinvolves removing only a section of diseased or damaged kidney but leaving the rest in place. Partial nephrectomies are often performed when the patient has a cancerous tumor.
A radical nephrectomyis the third type, and it is a more complicated operation. When you have a radical nephrectomy, an entire kidney is removed, along with the adrenal gland above the kidney and surrounding fat and lymph nodes adjacent to the kidney. Radical nephrectomies are often done when the patient has advanced kidney cancer.
For decades, kidney removal surgery was done using a large open incision. Recently, a procedure called laparoscopic surgery has made kidney removal much less invasive and has also greatly reduced recovery time. Laparoscopic surgery is done using a series of smaller incisions in which the surgeon uses a laparoscope, which is a long thin tube that contains a camera. It is inserted into the abdomen through one of the small incisions. This greatly reduces pain and discomfort after surgery.
Recovery from kidney removal surgery depends on the type of surgery performed. If the procedure is more complex and a large amount of tissue is removed, recovery will obviously take longer. After surgery, the patient usually gets intravenous fluids and pain medication. Some patients need a bladder catheter to help drain urine.
The amount of time a patient must be hospitalized also varies, but generally lasts 2 to 7 days. The length of the hospital stay depends on age, general state of health, and whether any complications occurred during the operation. Bleeding, post-operative infections, or reactions to anesthesia are possible.
Someone who has had kidney removal surgery can often return to normal activity soon after their procedure, but should usually avoid strenuous physical activity for about six weeks.
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