Nephrectomy (kidney removal)

Nephrectomy (nuh-FREK-tuh-me) is a surgery to remove all or part of a kidney. Most often, it's done to treat kidney cancer or to remove a tumor that isn't cancerous. The doctor who does the surgery is called a urologic surgeon. There are two main types of this procedure. Radical nephrectomy removes an entire kidney. Partial nephrectomy removes part of a kidney and leaves healthy tissue in place.

The most common reason for a nephrectomy is to remove a tumor from the kidney. These tumors are often cancer, but sometimes they're not. In other cases, nephrectomy can help treat a diseased or damaged kidney. It's also used to remove a healthy kidney from an organ donor for transplant into a person who needs a working kidney.

Nephrectomy is often a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, it comes with risks such as: Bleeding. Infection. Injury to nearby organs. Pneumonia after surgery. Reactions to medicine that prevents pain during surgery, called anesthesia. Pneumonia after surgery. Rarely, other serious problems, such as kidney failure. Some people have long-term problems from a nephrectomy. These complications relate to issues that can stem from having less than two fully working kidneys. Problems that may happen over time due to less kidney function include: High blood pressure, also called hypertension. More protein in the urine than usual, a sign of kidney damage. Chronic kidney disease. Still, a single health kidney can work as well as two kidneys. And if you're thinking of donating a kidney, know that most kidney donors live long, healthy lives after nephrectomy. Risks and complications depend on the type of surgery, reasons for surgery, your overall health and many other issues. A surgeon's level of skill and experience are key as well. For example, at Mayo Clinic these procedures are done by urologists with advanced training and extensive experience. This lowers the chances of problems tied to surgery and helps lead to the best possible outcomes. Talk with your surgeon about the benefits and risks of nephrectomy to help decide if it's right for you.

Before surgery, you'll talk with your urologic surgeon about your treatment options. Questions you might ask include: Will I need a partial or complete nephrectomy? Can I get the type of surgery that involves smaller cuts, called laparoscopic surgery? What are the chances that I'll need a radical nephrectomy even if a partial nephrectomy is planned? If the surgery is to treat cancer, what other procedures or treatments might I need?

Before your nephrectomy starts, your care team gives you medicine that puts you in a sleep-like state and keeps you from feeling pain during surgery. This medicine is called general anesthesia. A small tube that drains urine from your bladder, called a catheter, also is placed before surgery. During the nephrectomy, the urologic surgeon and anesthesia team work together to minimize pain after surgery.