The Nephrectomy Procedure Explained: Kidney Removal Surgery
A nephrectomy is a term used by doctors referring to a surgical procedure for the removal of a kidney or a section of a kidney
. It may also be referred to as 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 many important jobs done by the kidneys is filtering and removing toxins and wastes from the blood. This filtering process produces urine.
A nephrectomy is done as a solution to one of several possible kidney problems. It is most often used to treat patients whose kidneys have failed, and where there's kidney cancer or abnormal tissue growth.
A complete or radical nephrectomy means the entire kidney is removed. When only a part of the kidney is taken out, it's called a partial nephrectomy. There's another type of nephrectomy known as a donor nephrectomy procedure. This describes an operation in which someone donates one healthy kidney which is then transplanted into another person.
Nephrectomy surgery is usually done one of several ways.
1. Laparoscopic Nephrectomy - This relatively new and innovative procedure allows the surgeon to avoid making a large incision. Instead, he or she makes a series of small incisions. These incisions are used to insert a miniature tube-like camera and the other instruments necessary to the procedure. The surgeon looks at an TV screen while manipulating the instruments to remove all or part of the kidney.
2. Open Nephrectomy - This is the "traditional" method of removing a kidney. Tissue is removed through a large open incision.
Your surgeon will discuss with you whether a laparoscopic nephrectomy or an open nephrectomy is more appropriate in your situation. The decision will depend on the reason for the surgery and how much of the kidney needs to be removed.
You may be asking at this point what factors determine how much tissue needs to be taken out.
It depends on many different things. The first thing the surgeon will consider will be how much of the kidney is damaged or affected by disease. The doctor will have to determine if the problem affects only one area or only one kidney. He or she will want to determine if affects nearby tissue or the other kidney.
There are a number of tests that will help answer these questions. They include:
Ultrasound - This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the kidney and the tissues around it.
Computerized Tomography - Also known as CT, this uses specialized X-Ray technology to produce images of a thin cross-sectional view of the soft tissues within the kidney.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - An "MRI" uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce a 3D computer image of the kidney.
After the tests have been run and a diagnosis has been made, the surgeon will decide which kind of surgery is most appropriate for you.
Recovery time is different from one patient to another. Your recovery time will depend on the type of operation you've had and your overall health.
There may be long-term complications connected to kidney removal surgery. These include an increase in blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. Nonetheless, most of the time, a nephrectomy patient can live a happy, healthy life with the remaining kidney tissue - even though overall kidney function will be less than normal.
by: Neal Kennedy
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