The Nephrectomy Procedure – Kidney Removal Surgery
The word “nephrectomy” is a term used by doctors to describe the surgical removal of a kidney or part of a kidney. The same procedure is often called nephrectomy surgery. When normal kidney functions are compromised because of disease or damage, kidney removal surgery or a nephrectomy may be become necessary.
One of the important jobs done by the kidneys is filtering and removing toxins and wastes from the bloodstream. This filtering process the way urine is produced.
A nephrectomy is done as a treatment for one of several possible kidney problems. It is typically done for kidney removal in cases of kidney failure or kidney cancer.
Kidney removal that includes only part of the organ is called partial nephrectomy. Removing the entire kidney is called a complete or radical nephrectomy. There’s another type of nephrectomy called a donor nephrectomy procedure. This describes an operation in which someone donates a healthy kidney which is then transplanted into another person.
Generally speaking, there are two different kinds of procedures used for removing a kidney.
1. Laparoscopic Nephrectomy – The surgeon makes several small incisions. A tube with a miniature camera attached to it is placed in one of them. Instruments for performing the surgery are placed in the others. The surgeon uses the camera to guide his or her movements in using the instruments to remove all or part of the kidney.
2. Open Nephrectomy – An open nephrectomy is done through a large single incision made in the side of the patient or the abdomen.
The condition of the kidney and how much tissue needs to be removed will determine whether a laparoscopic or an open nephrectomy is the better option.
What factors determine how much tissue must be removed from the kidney?
It depends on a number of different things. The first thing the surgeon will look at will be how much of the kidney is damaged or affected by disease. Your doctor will want to know if the damage or disease is confined to one area, or does it involve nearby tissues or the other kidney?
To help determine the condition and severity of the kidney damage, a variety of tests will be given that include the following:
Ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the kidney and the tissues around it.
Computerized Tomography – Another name for this is CT or CT scanning. It employs special X-ray technology which creates thin, cross -sectional “slices” of kidney tissue.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging – This type of technology employs radio waves and a magnetic field to produce computer-enhanced 3-dimensional views of the kidney. Also known as an”MRI.”
After examining the data gathered from these tests, your doctor come up with a course of action that’s best for you.
Recovery time is different from one patient to another. Your recovery time will depend on the type of nephrectomy you’ve had and your overall health.
Long term complications from a nephrectomy may occur.. Your body was designed to function with two kidneys, so when one is removed, you overall health can be affected. You are more likely to develop high blood pressure and you may be more prone to chronic kidney disease. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, nephrectomy patients recover completely and return to the same happy, normal lives they enjoyed before their kidney problems developed.
You can get more information on this and related similar topics by clicking kidney removal, nephrectomy or kidney problem.
