When part or all of a kidney is removed in surgery, the procedure is called a nephrectomy. It may also be referred to as nephrectomy surgery. Nephrectomy surgery becomes necessary when a kidney malfunctions because it is irreparably diseased or damaged.

The role of the kidney is to filter unneeded waste and harmful toxins from the blood so they can be removed from the body as urine.

A nephrectomy is done as a solution to one of several possible kidney problems. It is usually done for kidney removal in cases of failing kidneys or kidney cancer.

Kidney removal that includes only a section of the organ is called partial nephrectomy. When the entire kidney it removed, it’s called a complete or radical nephrectomy. When someone donates a healthy kidney to another person it’s called a donor nephrectomy.

Removing a kidney is usually done one of two ways.

1. Laparoscopic Nephrectomy – This is a minimally invasive operation using several small incisions instead of one large one. A miniature camera is placed inside the body, and the surgeon uses instruments placed in the incisions to remove tissue as needed.

2. Open Nephrectomy – This type of nephrectomy operation involves one single large open incision rather than several small ones. The surgeon removes as much tissue as necessary through the large incision. This is the “traditional” method of kidney removal, and requires a longer recovery period.

The type of kidney removal surgery performed will depend on why you need the surgery and how much of the kidney needs to be removed.

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 have to ascertain whether the damage or disease is located in only one kidney or one area. Or does it affect nearby tissues or the other kidney?

Several tests are available to help your doctor determine the answers to these questions, including:

Ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the kidney and the tissues around it.

Computerized Tomography – Specialized X-ray technology is used to produce cross-sectional views of the kidney. Also called CT.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Popularly known as “MRI.” This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves that produce 3D images or a cross-sectional view of the soft tissues.

After examining the results from these tests, your surgeon come up with a course of action that’s best for you.

Your recovery time will depend on which type of surgery 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 most of the time, people who have had kidney removal surgery recover fully and lead normal, healthy lives once again.

Find more information on this and related similar subject matter by clicking taking out a kidney, nephrectomy or kidney problems.

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