Nephrectomy

Open simple nephrectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the complete kidney for kidney donation. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 3 hours. Your doctor makes a long incision just below the rib. One of the ribs may have to be removed to easily access the kidney. The kidney is separated from the surrounding muscles, tissues, fat, and ureter and removed. Your surgeon then closes the incision with sutures. A catheter may be inserted after the surgery to help you pass urine. You will be discharged from the hospital in about 2 to 7 days after the surgery.

Like other surgical procedures, open simple nephrectomy may be involved with complications such as injury of the surrounding organs and infection of the surgical wound.

There are alternate minimally invasive/laparoscopic nephrectomy procedures that can be availed of, but are restricted to selected cases only. Your surgeon will discuss your options with you based on your particular medical history.