Nephrectomy: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

A nephrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney, typically performed to treat kidney cancer or to remove a benign tumor. A urologic surgeon performs this surgery.

There are different approaches to accessing the kidney. One method involves making a single large incision in the abdomen or side, known as an open nephrectomy. More commonly, the surgery is done through several small incisions in the abdomen, referred to as a laparoscopic nephrectomy. Sometimes, a robotic system is used for laparoscopic procedures. In robotic surgery, the surgeon operates surgical tools and a camera attached to robotic arms from a computer console near the operating table.

Types

There are two main types of Nephrectomy.

1)Radical nephrectomy: It removes the entire kidney.

2)Partial nephrectomy: It removes only a part of a kidney and leaves healthy tissue in place.

Why It's Done

A nephrectomy is most commonly performed to remove a tumor from the kidney, whether cancerous or benign. It can also be used to treat a diseased or damaged kidney. In addition, a nephrectomy is performed to remove a healthy kidney from a donor for transplantation into someone who needs a functioning kidney.

Before undergoing a nephrectomy, patients may experience several signs and symptoms, which could include:

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Pain in the side or lower back
• A lump or mass in the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue and general weakness
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• High blood pressure (hypertension)