Radical Nephrectomy

Radical Nephrectomy
Radical Nephrectomy

This surgery is for kidney cancer. The aim is to remove the cancerous kidney and its surrounding fat to achieve best possible cure. This can be done either with open surgery or laparoscopic or robotic method, the choice depending on the site and size of the tumour. Laparoscopic / robotic method has the advantage of smaller incisions and faster recovery. For small tumours < 4 cm, a partial nephrectomy is possible; sparing most part of the kidney and reducing the chance of latter kidney failure. This is especially relevant to patients who have co-existent diseases that may cause kidney failure, esp. hypertension, diabetes mellitus. General anaesthesia is needed for this surgery, which can take up to 4 hours. Hospital stay is 5 days on average.

Complications include:

  • bleeding. This may require blood transfusion.
  • urine leak. This is relevant for partial nephrectomy surgery. This is because the collecting system is opened during removal of the tumour and needs water-tight repair. However, the sutures may give way post-surgery, leading to excess urine leakage out from the kidney.
  • numbness below the wound site. This is common in open surgery and may take a few months to recover.
  • bulge over the scar. This is seen in open surgery and due to muscle weakness following division of a nerve. It carries no consequence but may cosmetically bother some patients.