Nephrectomy, indications for surgery and surgery for the elderly to remove the kidney

Nephrectomy is an operation that involves the removal of the kidney. Nephrectomy is performed with various kidney pathologies, when their work or anatomic integrity can not be restored and a high risk of complications is formed.

Such conditions should be attributed to:

• Gunshot wounds, contributing to the crushing of the kidney tissue.
• Closed injuries of the kidney causing serious organ damage.
• Urolithiasis, which is supplemented by pionephrosis or hydronephrosis of the kidney.
• Tumor in the kidney.

Often an elderly operation is performed to remove the kidney due to the age-related features of the kidney dysfunction.

Nephrectomy is a relatively technically difficult operation when there is a risk of developing bleeding from the vessels in the kidney. Another complication of such manipulations may be injury to the peritoneum, abnormality of the abdominal part, since the kidney is located directly behind it. In addition, because of anatomical proximity, accidental injury to the pancreas can occur during surgery.

Changes in the organ in a person in old age often causes the formation of kidney failure, when the protein is trapped in the body, so the inner vessel wall is damaged. Over time, this process causes cholesterol accumulation and the formation of atherosclerotic deposits.

. Preparation for operation

. Before conducting any surgical intervention, it is necessary to arrange the delivery of blood and urine tests. Of blood tests, the most important are general analysis, a test for coagulation, a sugar analysis, and biochemical analysis. Immediately before the operation of the patient examines the anesthesiologist.

Contraindications to surgery are severe pathologies of the patient, various additional damage to the body, when the risk of complications in the process of the operation and after it increases.

Conduction of

operation Nephrectomy is performed under general anesthesia.

The patient is placed on the operating table, on a healthy side, laying under it a special roller. To fix the position, the operating table devices are used.

The physician accesses the kidney through an oblique incision in the lumbar region. At the same time, the cutaneous covering, subcutaneous fat and fat capsule are cut layer by layer. Then the surgeon reaches the kidney, is enclosed inside the fat capsule.

After excretion of the kidney, the bandage and the intersection of its pedicle are made. Initially, the ureter is bandaged, then the renal vein and artery, which are bandaged and crossed, are excreted. After complete crossing of the kidney, the kidney is removed.

At the end of the operation, the doctor examines the bed, where the kidney was previously located, stops the bleeding, places a drainage tube in the bed and sews up the wound layer by layer, applying a sterile bandage on top.

Nutrition when removing the kidney

When removing one of the kidneys, it is important to observe certain nutrition rules especially for people in old age. It is necessary to monitor protein intake, often a diet with a low protein content in the diet is prescribed for patients.

It is also recommended to reduce the intake of salt, and the food is best salted directly in the plate before use, and not during cooking - so you can noticeably reduce the amount of salt consumed.

In the absence of puffiness and persistent hypertension, it is recommended to drink plenty of liquid in order to accelerate harmful compounds from the body.

Complications after surgery

After a nephrectomy, a person may develop some complications in the state of health. As a rule, only 2% of people have postoperative complications. Specific complications of the postoperative period include myocardial infarction, impaired blood flow in the brain, heart failure, thromboembolism, pneumonia, etc.

Prophylaxis of the listed complications consists in realization of the complex of exercises of respiratory gymnastics, early restoration of the patient's activity, carrying out bandaging of the lower extremities with the help of elastic bandages in order to reduce the risk of thromboembolism.

Occasionally during trauma in the course of pancreatic surgery in the postoperative period, pancreatitis may occur - an inflammatory process in the pancreas. Another nonspecific complication of kidney removal is intestinal paresis.

This is a process in which the peristalsis in the intestines is reduced, which is manifested by a delay in the escape of gases, bloating, and lack of stool. The preventive measure of this deviation is the early activation of the patient, because during the walk self-massage of the intestine occurs, and also breathing exercises stimulate the activity of the intestine.

To prevent any complications in the postoperative period, you should periodically visit a doctor and check the functioning of the second kidney.