Definition

Kidney removal, also called nephrectomy, is a surgical procedure to remove a kidney.

Kidney removal may be done as open surgery, which involves a large cut in the side of the abdomen. Some patients may have laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive and involves three or four small cuts, usually no more than an inch each, in the abdominal and flank areas.

Indications

Kidney removal may be recommended for

• Birth defects (congenital abnormalities)
• Injury (trauma)
• Infection
• Hypertension
• Tumor
• Chronic Bleeding

Kidney removal is also performed on someone who donates a kidney for a kidney transplant.