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Nephrectomy; Simple nephrectomy; Radical nephrectomy; Open nephrectomy; Laparoscopic nephrectomy; Partial nephrectomy
Kidney removal, or nephrectomy, is surgery to remove all or part of a kidney. It may involve:
This surgery is done in the hospital while you are asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia). The procedure can take 3 hours.
For simple nephrectomy or open kidney removal:
For radical nephrectomy or open kidney removal:
For laparoscopic surgery:
Sometimes, your surgeon may make a cut in a different place than described above.
Some hospitals and medical centers are doing this surgery using robots. See also: Robotic surgery
Kidney removal may be recommended for:
Novick AC. Open surgery of the kidney. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 50.
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