Overview

Nephrectomy is a surgery that takes out all or part of a kidney. There are two types of nephrectomies: a partial nephrectomy, which removes only the diseased part of the kidney, and a radical nephrectomy, which removes the entire kidney and sometimes the surrounding tissues. The surgery can be done in two ways: with a larger incision and an open approach, or with less invasive methods like laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery. A nephrectomy is often done for kidney cancer, severe kidney damage, large kidneys that don't work, or major trauma. The goal is to remove sick tissue while preserving as much healthy kidney function as possible.

Why It's Done
Nephrectomy is done when a kidney is so badly damaged or affected by cancer, an infection, or an obstruction that it can't be fixed with less invasive methods. If you have kidney tumours, removing the affected kidney may prevent the cancer from spreading. When possible, partial nephrectomy is often the best option to preserve kidney function. It is also possible to do the procedure for living kidney donation.

What to Expect?
Before surgery, patients undergo blood tests, imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans, and a general health checkup to determine whether they are healthy enough for surgery. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. During surgery, the surgeon carefully takes out the affected kidney or part of it while leaving nearby structures intact. Minimally invasive methods use small incisions and specialised tools, often resulting in shorter hospital stays. Depending on how complex it is, the surgery could take 2 to 4 hours. After surgery, doctors monitor patients' pain, bleeding, and kidney function. It is possible to put in a urinary catheter for a short time. The length of hospital stay usually ranges from a few days to a week, depending on the method used and the patient's recovery.

Recovery & Outlook
It usually takes a few weeks to get better, and then you can slowly start doing normal things again. Most people can live healthy lives with only one working kidney. It is important to have regular follow-up visits to monitor kidney health and overall health.