What is Radical Nephrectomy?
Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a minimally invasive technique indicated for the treatment of kidney cancer. The procedure involves the removal of the entire kidney along with the surrounding fatty tissue, adrenal glands (hormone-releasing glands that sit on top of the kidney) and lymph nodes.
Procedure of Radical nephrectomy
Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon makes 3 to 4 small incisions on the abdomen. A laparoscope (a narrow tube with a light and a camera) is inserted into one of the incisions to view the diseased kidney. The camera is connected to a high definition monitor to guide your surgeon throughout the procedure. The surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions to access the kidney. The tumor-affected kidney, neighboring fat, adrenal glands, and lymph nodes are freed from the surrounding tissue, placed in a plastic sack and excised. The incisions are sutured firmly. The complete laparoscopic surgical procedure takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Complications of Radical nephrectomy
As with all surgical procedures, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy may be associated with certain complications, which include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Injury to the surrounding tissues and organs
- Chest infection
- A blood clot in the leg or lungs
- Stroke or heart attack
Advantages of Radical Nephrectomy
The advantages of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy when compared to open radical nephrectomy include:
- Smaller incisions and less scarring
- Less post-operative pain
- Faster recovery
- Reduced hospital stay
If you wish to be advised on the most appropriate treatment, please give us a call at to schedule an appointment or request an appointment online.
