Nephrectomy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Intervention: Nephrectomy |
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| ICD-10 code: | ||
| ICD-9 code: | 55.4 55.5 | |
| MeSH | D009392 | |
| Other codes: | ||
Nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney.
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[edit] History
The first successful nephrectomy was performed by the German surgeon Gustav Simon on August 2nd, 1869 in Heidelberg. Simon practiced the operation beforehand in animal experiments. He proved that one healthy kidney can be sufficient for urine excretion in humans.
[edit] Indications
There are various indications for this procedure, such as renal cell carcinoma, a non-functioning kidney (which may cause high blood pressure) and a congenitally small kidney (in which the kidney is swelling, causing it to press on nerves which can cause pain in unrelated areas such as the back). Nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma is rapidly being modified to allow partial removal of the kidney. Nephrectomy is also performed for the purpose of living donor kidney transplantation.
[edit] Procedure
The surgery is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the side of the abdomen to reach the kidney. Depending on circumstances, the incision can also be made midline. The ureter and blood vessels are disconnected, and the kidney is then removed. The surgery can be done as open surgery, with one incision, or as a laparoscopic procedure, with three or four small cuts in the abdominal and flank area. Recently, this procedure is performed through a single incision in the patient's belly-button. This advanced technique is called as Single Port Access Surgery.
In January 2009, a woman who had previously had a hysterectomy was able to donate a kidney and have it removed through her vagina. The operation took place at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. This is the first time a healthy kidney has been removed via this method, though it has been done in the past for nephrectomies carried out due to pathology. Removing organs through orifices prevents some of the pain of an incision and the need for a cosmetically unappealing larger scar. Any advance which leads to a decrease in pain and scarring has the potential to boost donor numbers.[1] This operation also has taken place at the Cleveland Clinic.
For some illnesses, there are alternatives today that do not require the extraction of a kidney. Such alternatives include renal embolization[2] for those who are poor candidates for surgery, or partial nephrectomy if possible.
More rarely, renal cell cancers can involved adjacent organs, yet may be safely and completely removed surgical vie open or laparoscopic techniques. [3]
[edit] After Care
Pain medication is often given to the patient after the surgery because of pain at the site of the incision. An IV with fluids is administered. Electrolyte balance and fluids are carefully monitored, because these are the functions of the kidneys. It is possible that the remaining kidney does not take over all functionality. A patient has to stay in the hospital between 2 and 7 days depending on the procedure and complications.
[edit] References
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7867837.stm Donor kidney removed via vagina
- ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10037359 Complete renal embolization as an alternative to nephrectomy
- ^ Crotty KL, Macaluso JN: Partial Colectomy Required for Resection of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Treatment Options for Locally Advanced Disease. Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Vol 152, 119-123, March 2000
[edit] See also
[edit] Links and Sources
- Laparoscopic Nephrectomy
- Drawings of the steps of the procedure
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Nephrectomy
- Explanation of the surgery, the risks and the recovery
- Life of Gustav Simon on the homepage of Heidelberg University Surgical Hospital (German)
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