What is a radical nephrectomy?

Cancer can be devastating to the body. One of the only successful methods to treat or stop the progression of the disease is many times the complete removal of the tumor, as well as the organs and tissues associated with it. Such surgery is usually called radical. Radical nephrectomy is the removal of kidneys, urinary, surrounding tissues, lymph nodes and adrenal glands, usually due to cancer or other severe kidney disease. This operation can be used as a possibility to get rid of cancer body or to provide greater comfort for a patient in which cancer is incurable. Removing one kidney may not result in a drastic change in human life, because most individuals have two. If the patient has a weak kidney or if he has already had the kidney removed, this operation may lead to a patient to undergo dialysis. Before performing radical -endaprectomy, the doctor will usually discuss all available options and help the patient decide which one is true for his situation.

In general, there are two types of radical nephrectomy offered as treatment options. Open nephrectomy includes patient cutting so that the surgeon can see the organs when it removes them. This type of surgery is a more traditional version. Candidates for this type of surgery include those that have tumors larger than four inches (10 cm). Other patients who may be useful for this type of surgery are those who had previous operations that left internal scarring.

The second type of radical nephrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. This surgery does not include a cut as large as the one needed for open radical nephrectomy. Rather, several small cuts are done. In the first incisina, Tom is inserted a camera so the doctor can see what he is doing. Other slices are used to allow surgical instruments to access the organ. The surgeon can then fromDivide the kidneys and other tissues it removes and extract them by another cut.

As with all operations, there are risks and benefits associated with open and laparoscopic radical nephrectomic operations. In both cases, the patient will have to undergo general anesthesia, which may be associated with the risks of brain damage, heart attack or stroke. In some procedures, the nerves could be damaged, resulting in problems with the back. All risks should be discussed with a physician before the patient undergoes the procedure. The doctor can help the patient decide what risks he is willing to take to get rid of or control cancer.