There are a number of diseases in which kidney removal is the only option to save a patient's life. This is an extreme measure, but if you can’t do without it, you need to get as much information as possible about what will happen. Moreover, it is desirable not only to realize how the surgery will be carried out, but also to find out everything about the rehabilitation period after it.
Kidney function
There are no unimportant organs in the human body. Each performs its work, affecting the state of a person as a whole. The kidneys perform several functions that are equally important:
- blood purification from nitrogenous secretions of metabolism and other toxins;
- maintaining the required level of electrolytes;
- fluid balance in body tissues;
- maintenance and regulation of blood pressure;
- isolation of biologically active components from cell tissues, such as renin and erythropoietin.
The secretion of renin and erythropoietin is necessary for a person to maintain blood pressure levels and direct blood formation.
Indications for organ removal
Removal of a kidney has a medical name - nephrectomy. Before an operation is prescribed, doctors try to preserve the organ by all available means. The fact is that if the kidney is able to function at least 20%, then it is able to cope with the amount of work. But with some pathologies, surgery can not be avoided. If the kidney is not removed on time, the consequences will be disastrous.
Nephrectomy is prescribed for organ injuries, malignant tumors, congenital anomalies, polycystosis and hydronephrosis. If a malignancy is detected, it is impossible to delay decision-making. Cancer is characterized by the rapid spread of metastases to healthy tissues.
Procedure
Removal of the kidney is not prescribed without a comprehensive examination of the patient. To assess the functioning of the second organ, X-ray with contrast, MRI and other studies are prescribed. In case of emergency, the functionality is checked during the operation by the introduction of a special dye, which should be excreted in the urine.
The operation is carried out in a hospital. The patient is in the hospital for 1 to 3 weeks. It depends on the complexity of the condition and the type of operation. Nephrectomy can be performed openly or laparoscopically.
Surgeons prefer the laparoscopic method of nephrectomy. Patients are easier to tolerate such removal of the kidney. Reviews on laparoscopy are most favorable:
- there is no large and ugly scar on the body;
- the operation is safer;
- complications less often develop;
- rehabilitation is easier;
- disability can be avoided.
The fact is that the manipulation is carried out through small incisions in the lumbar region. A laparoscope is introduced into them, and the control of execution occurs on a special monitor.
Possible complications
Removal of the kidney may be accompanied by non-specific complications, which depend on concomitant diseases and prolonged immobility. This can be congestive pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. In some cases, thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction, or stroke develop. Such complications in medical practice are rare, as doctors take measures to prevent them.
The patient must understand that kidney removal is the consequence of an advanced disease that could cause serious harm to health. Surgery in this case is inevitable. But postoperative complications just can be avoided. Much depends on preoperative preparation and a person’s desire to quickly return to an active life. It is necessary to strictly comply with all medical prescriptions and recommendations.
The postoperative period. Physical exercise
If kidney removal is performed, the postoperative period requires complete rest. The first day the patient lies on his back, sudden movements and turns on his side are contraindicated, since the stitches from the kidney legs can slip. By the end of the first day or the morning of the next day, the medical staff helps to carefully turn over on their side. They are allowed to sit in bed for 2-3 days if complications do not occur. You can get out of bed on the fourth day.
It is recommended that the patient conduct breathing exercises, move his arms and legs smoothly. One cannot remain motionless for a long time, but too zealous is also harmful. If the recommendations are not followed, a hernia or adhesions may appear.
The most important condition is drinking clean water.
Due to improper nutrition and the use of medications, the formation of toxins occurs in the human body. They are excreted in feces and urine, but the kidneys are not always able to process them efficiently. An even greater load exists in the case of removal of the paired organ, so it is very important to facilitate the work of the remaining kidney.
First of all, the patient needs to accustom himself to drink only purified water, which has been filtered. Drinking melt water is also recommended. In the daily diet, it is necessary to include at least 30 ml of pure water per 1 kg of patient weight or 7 ml of melt water, respectively.
Obese people should increase the dose of water consumption from this calculation:
- purified water - at least 40 ml per 1 kg of weight;
- melt water - from 10 ml per 1 kg of weight.
Such a norm of water is mandatory for daily use, plus the patient must receive additional fluid, which is contained in vegetables, fruits, soups, etc.
A sufficient amount of water will provide soft stools, while urine will become less concentrated.
Diet
The first meal is allowed almost a day after surgery, but they give water earlier. Some patients complain of decreased intestinal motility and increased gas formation.
After the patient has had a kidney removed, the nutrition should change dramatically. The next two years it will be necessary to follow a diet: completely exclude salted, pickled, smoked and spicy foods from the diet, reduce the intake of protein and sweets, and refrain from abuse of coffee and tea.
The daily menu should include fruits and vegetables. Pumpkin and watermelon must be added to the diet. Meat or meat dishes should be steamed or boiled, since fried during this period is harmful. Fermented milk products or yoghurts can occasionally be consumed, but they should be fresh and have a short shelf life. The amount of preservatives consumed is best reduced to a minimum.
Rehabilitation
If the patient has successfully completed the removal of the kidney, rehabilitation can take up to a year and a half. Gradually, the remaining kidney gets used to increased loads and compensates for the absence of a paired organ.
At first, it is necessary to exclude weight lifting and strong physical exertion. In the morning and in the evening it is advisable to take walks, it is very useful to wipe with a wet towel and a contrast shower. Particular attention will have to be paid to clean skin, as it performs an excretory function, along with the remaining kidney.
After removal, it is necessary to carefully monitor the state of a healthy kidney. You can not supercool, run chronic ailments, self-medicate. Regular consultations of a urologist will help to objectively assess your condition. Take care of yourself, as the third kidney in the body is not provided.