Page 248 - Urological Health

Nephrectomy

Anephrectomyis asurgical procedure toremove the kidney. Thankfully,itis rarelyneeded if you have
kidney stones.
You may need a nephrectomy if your kidney loses its function as a result of significant long-term
obstruction from a stone. In these cases, the delay is getting a diagnosis and treatment is caused by the
fact that the patient had no symptoms. A nephrectomy would only be considered if your kidney does
not recover its function. Even in this situation, your surgeon may simply choose to avoid a
nephrectomy and follow you closely to make sure you have no infection, bleeding or pain.

The Evolution in the Surgical Treatment of Kidney Stones

Treating kidney stones has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 30 years. Thankfully,
many stones will pass spontaneously and require no treatment. If you need treatment, you have many
options.
If you had stones 30 years ago, you would have had days of pain and suffering, with the only treatment
choice being a large incision and often weeks of recovery. Now, your treatment is minimally invasive
and can be done in a day without a hospital stay. You can expect to fully recover and return to work
within days.
UNDER REVIEW

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