Kidney removal Health Article

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Kidney removal may be recommended for:

• Someone donating a kidney
• Birth defects
• Kidney cancer
• A kidney damaged by infection, kidney stones, or other problems
• To help control high blood pressure in someone who has problems with the blood supply to their kidney
• Very bad injury (trauma) to the kidney that cannot be repaired

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Infection, including in the surgical wound, lungs (pneumonia), bladder, or kidney
• Blood loss
• Heart attack or stroke during surgery
• Reactions to medications

Risks for this procedure are:

• Injury to other organs or structures
• Kidney failure in the remaining kidney
• After one kidney is removed, your other kidney may not work as well for awhile
• Hernia of your surgical wound

Before the Procedure

Always tell your doctor or nurse:

• If you could be pregnant
• What drugs you are taking, even drugs or herbs you bought without a prescription

During the days before the surgery:

• You will have blood samples taken in case you need a blood transfusion.
• You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), Clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), and other drugs like these.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of the surgery.
• Always try to stop smoking. This will help you to recover quicker. Your doctor or nurse can help.

On the day of the surgery:

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before the surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.