Nephrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney. Most often, it is performed to treat kidney cancer or to remove a noncancerous (benign) tumor and, in some cases, to deal with a diseased or damaged kidney. During a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney from a donor is removed for transplant into a person who needs a functioning kidney.
There are two types of nephrectomy:
• Radical: removal of entire kidney and the surrounding fatty tissues and often some other structures, such as ureter, or other adjacent structures such as the adrenal gland or lymph nodes. • Partial: also called kidney-sparing surgery, where diseased tissue is removed from a kidney and healthy tissue is left in place.
What happens before Surgery?
Dr. Raghunath will explain conduct proper counselling of the surgery and its possible outcomes. He’ll take your medical history regarding any medications, allergies, etc. Doctor will ask you to fast overnight before surgery
What happens during this procedure?
Under general anaesthesia, Dr. Raghunath may perform a nephrectomy through a single incision in the abdomen or side (open nephrectomy) or through a series of small incisions in the abdomen using a camera and small instruments (laparoscopic nephrectomy). In some cases, these laparoscopic procedures are performed using a robotic system. A urinary catheter will be placed before surgery to drain urine from bladder.
What to expect after surgery?
Depending your overall health and type of nephrectomy performed, you’ll be required to stay anytime between 7-10 days. Catheter will be kept for a short time till recovery.
Dr. Raghunath’s team will guide you regarding diet and lifestyle modifications. Start light, everyday activities as soon as you feel capable, but avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for several weeks. Do attend regular follow-up appointments to keep a check on kidney health.
What to expect after surgery?
Though it is a generally safe procedure, there can be potential complications like:
Bleeding
Infection
Injury to nearby organs
High blood pressure
Chronic kidney disease (through long-term reduced function due to loss of a kidney)
Dr. Raghunath’s advanced training and extensive experience helps to minimize the chances of problems related to surgery and assure the best possible outcomes.
Most patients can resume normal activities within one week, including driving, walking up stairs, light lifting, and work. You are encouraged to engage in light activity while at home after surgery. Speak to your doctor before carrying out any strenuous work.
Laparoscopic adrenal gland removal is minimally invasive and more commonly followed these days. Common advantages are: • Smaller incisions • Shorter hospital stay • Les postoperative pain • Better cosmesis • Reduced risk of herniation or wound separation • Faster recovery & return to normal activity
In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method cannot be performed. In that situation, the operation is converted to an open procedure. The decision to perform the open procedure is a judgment decision made by Dr. Raghunath either before or during the actual operation. When the surgeon feels that it is safest to convert the laparoscopic procedure to an open one, this is not a complication, but rather sound surgical judgment. The decision to convert to an open procedure is strictly based on patient safety.
Contact Dr. Raghunath and his team right away if you experience any of the following post discharge: • Persistent fever over 101 degrees F • Bleeding • Increasing abdominal swelling • Pain that is not relieved by your medications • Persistent nausea or vomiting • Chills • Persistent cough or shortness of breath • Pus from any incision • Redness surrounding any of your incisions that is worsening or getting bigger • You are unable to eat or drink liquids
Disclaimer Statement
This website is built with intention of providing basic details about the various diseases. The contents of the website is not meant to replace an in-person consultation. Please follow the advise of your doctor via in-person consultation. This website will not assume any legal responsibility for the patient’s medical condition.
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