Kidney Removal Surgery

Nephrectomy is surgery to remove a kidney tumour with part of the kidney, or to remove the whole kidney. A partial nephrectomy preserves remaining kidney tissue when suitable; a radical nephrectomy removes the kidney and may include nearby tissue. The choice depends on tumour position, size, kidney function, and overall health.

This treatment is planned with your cancer team after reviewing your diagnosis and health.

The operation may be open or minimally invasive. Removed tissue is examined by pathology, which helps confirm the diagnosis and plan follow-up for Kidney Cancer, Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer, or Wilms Tumour.

Before surgery, tests assess kidney function, blood counts, imaging, medicines, and fitness for anaesthesia. During the operation, the surgeon reaches the kidney through planned incisions, removes the tumour-bearing tissue or kidney, controls bleeding, and closes the wound. A urinary catheter or drain may be used temporarily.

Short-term effects can include pain, tiredness, nausea, constipation, shoulder-tip discomfort after keyhole surgery, and changes in urination. Kidney function may change, particularly after removal of a whole kidney, so follow-up blood and urine tests are important. Recovery also depends on the incision and any additional procedure.

Seek urgent medical advice for heavy bleeding, fever, worsening wound redness, severe abdominal or flank pain, breathlessness, chest pain, very little urine, or persistent vomiting. These may indicate infection, bleeding, a clot, or a kidney-related problem.

Surgery can remove a localised tumour and provides tissue for a precise pathology assessment. Preserving kidney tissue may be considered when it is technically safe and appropriate, while removing the whole kidney may be needed for tumour position or extent. Outcomes depend on pathology, spread, kidney function, general health, and follow-up care.

People can often live with one healthy kidney, but kidney function still needs monitoring. Tell clinicians about high blood pressure, diabetes, previous kidney disease, and all medicines. Hydration advice after surgery should be individual because kidney and heart conditions differ.

Nephrectomy may be offered when imaging shows a tumour that can be removed surgically, when a kidney tumour is causing concern, or when the disease pattern makes surgery part of the plan. The surgeon considers whether kidney tissue can be preserved and whether disease is present outside the kidney.

After anaesthesia, the team positions you safely, accesses the kidney, identifies the tumour and nearby structures, removes the planned tissue, checks the remaining kidney or surgical area, and closes the incisions. The specimen is sent to pathology. Recovery staff monitor urine output, pain, breathing, and movement.

Walking and breathing exercises usually begin early, with eating and drinking increased as tolerated. Hospital discharge depends on pain control, mobility, urine output, and wound progress. At home, avoid heavy lifting until cleared, keep follow-up appointments, and ask when work, driving, exercise, and bathing can resume. Tiredness may continue after the wound improves.

Possible risks include bleeding, infection, blood clots, injury to nearby organs, urine leakage after partial nephrectomy, anaesthetic complications, and reduced kidney function. The team explains risks specific to the tumour and chosen approach, including the possibility that the planned operation may need to change.

For selected tumours, alternatives can include active surveillance, Tumour Ablation, or another cancer treatment. Suitability depends on tumour location and biology, kidney function, age, other conditions, and personal priorities. These options may control a tumour differently from surgery and require their own follow-up.

Seek a urology cancer team with surgical, imaging, pathology, oncology, anaesthesia, and kidney-care support. Ask whether partial or radical surgery is proposed, how kidney function will be protected, what the pathology review will show, and who will coordinate surveillance afterward.