Best Doctor List Near You for Nephrectomy in Lowell

Nephrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a kidney. It is performed for various reasons, including the treatment of kidney cancer, severe kidney damage from injury, or non-functioning kidneys due to chronic infection or other diseases. Nephrectomy may also be done for living kidney donation, where a healthy kidney is removed for transplantation into another person. There are two main types of nephrectomy: partial nephrectomy, where only a diseased portion of the kidney is removed, and radical nephrectomy, where the entire kidney is taken out along with surrounding tissues, such as the adrenal gland, lymph nodes, and sometimes part of the ureter. While nephrectomy is often necessary for treating serious conditions, it can lead to several complications. Risks associated with the procedure include infection, bleeding, and injury to nearby organs such as the liver, spleen, or intestines. In some cases, there may be post-operative issues with blood pressure or impaired kidney function, especially if the remaining kidney does not function properly. Patients may also experience pain, swelling, or difficulty with recovery, depending on the type of surgery performed, whether it is open surgery or a minimally invasive laparoscopic nephrectomy. Long-term complications can include reduced kidney function, especially if the remaining kidney is already weakened, which may lead to chronic kidney disease. Despite these risks, nephrectomy is a crucial intervention for many life-threatening kidney conditions and offers the potential for recovery or disease control, especially in cancer cases or kidney transplantation.