The only effective method for treating kidney tumors is an operation during which pathologically altered tissues are removed. At the same time, modern doctors use techniques to save organs, in particular, instead of a nephrectomy, a resection of the kidney is performed, in other words, only the damaged part is excised.
What is this organ?
The kidney is a kind of filter that helps cleanse the blood. A large amount of blood passes through it per day. It is because of this that the latter is further purified from various by-products during metabolism.
Every healthy person has 2 kidneys, which are located almost symmetrically under the diaphragm. This organ after purification of blood produces urine, which through special tubes enters the bladder. In it, this vital product accumulates for urination. The body is able to function normally with one kidney.
Indications for surgery
An intervention such as a kidney resection is prescribed for many problems that require surgical treatment. But they resort to the removal of part of the organ only with incomplete damage, since only in this case the patient is fully restored after the disease. Most often, they resort to resection when a cyst is found on a kidney or a tumor that can degenerate into malignant.
In addition, there are several indications that many doctors are guided by when prescribing such an operation:
- The rapid growth of benign education.
- The area of damaged tissue does not exceed 4 cm.
- High risk of malignant tissue degeneration.
- Urolithiasis disease.
- Cyst on the kidney.
- Tuberculosis organ damage.
- Oncological process in the kidneys.
- The risk of kidney failure.
- Damage to part of the kidney due to injury.
In malignant formations, an organ resection is carried out very carefully, because if the doctor leaves tissues with signs of degeneration during the operation, the tumor will begin to develop again. Typically, surgeons in such cases do not risk and completely remove the kidney to avoid the reappearance of education and metastasis.
Kidney resection: basic methods
When treating this organ, doctors resort to open or laparoscopic surgery. In the first case, the excision of part of the kidney occurs by an incision in the lumbar region. But more often a laparoscopic resection of the kidney is performed. Reviews about this method of treatment are usually positive. Such an operation avoids huge wounds on the patient's body. During its implementation, a small incision is made into which microsurgical instruments and a television camera are inserted using a special flexible tube (catheter).
The choice of type of operation depends on the availability of appropriate equipment and the skills of surgeons in the hospital. Of course, most doctors prefer laparoscopy, because after it the patient quickly recovers.
Contraindications to the removal of part of the kidney
Resection of a kidney tumor is not done if the person is in serious condition or has concomitant diseases that increase the risk of complications during surgery.
Preliminary examination before resection
Before performing an excision of the affected part of the kidney, the patient must first be examined by an anesthetist. Preparation for resection is a general examination, instrumental examination and laboratory examinations:
- X-ray of an organ with a contrast agent.
- Ultrasound, MRI and CT.
- Renal perfusion and angiography.
In addition, before surgery, the patient will have to spend several weeks in the hospital. But before entering a medical institution, the patient must take a chest x-ray and take blood tests for the following diseases: hepatitis, syphilis, HIV. An anesthetist and therapist examines a person in a hospital, and an enema is performed before resection in the evening.
Operation
A kidney resection is done under general anesthesia. First of all, doctors fix the patient with straps to the surgical table, and put a roller under the healthy side. In the usual excision of the affected organ, the doctor performs a curved incision on the patient’s body with a scalpel. The length of such a groove is approximately 10-12 cm. When excision of the damaged part of the kidney is performed laparoscopically, the length of the incision does not exceed 3-4 cm.
In the course of a usual surgical intervention, the doctor approaches layer by layer to the affected organ, and then clamps the kidney leg with a special device made in the form of an elastic structure. With laparoscopic intervention, the surgeon monitors the progress of the instruments on the monitor display.
The clamp during surgery is used to reduce blood output when the organ is removed with a scalpel - such an action the doctor conducts on the damaged part of the kidney. Physicians excise the affected tissue in the form of a wedge, thereby obtaining two equal flaps. They then move them and sew them together.
Then, drainage is brought to the place of removal of part of the kidney to control the fluid released after surgery from the organ. After its installation, the incision on the body is sutured.
Complications
Although excision of the affected part of the organ is a more gentle operation than the complete removal of the kidney, even after it there may be negative consequences characteristic of any surgical procedures. For example, acute cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarction may occur.
Since in most cases the terminal stages of urolithic pathology occur most often in older people with all kinds of tumors and cancer of a certain stage, at the time of surgery they already have many concomitant diseases, especially cardiovascular.
The operating physician needs enormous experience in the subsequent recovery, since it is necessary not only to foresee the occurrence of complications, but also to prevent them in time.
Rehabilitation after a kidney resection
After surgery, a long recovery period is required, which can last about a year. Quite often, patients complain of pain after a kidney resection, which can be eliminated only by the introduction of pain medications. To prevent the development of negative consequences after surgery, some recommendations should be observed:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Examined after resection every three months.
- Exclude physical activity, as in the first days after discharge the patient feels a breakdown and severe fatigue. You need to relax as much as possible.
- Avoid stressful situations and nervous tension.
- Consult a doctor about nutritional considerations. Indeed, in each case, its recommendations, everything will depend on the severity of the disease, the age and complexity of the operation.
- After removal of part of the kidney, communication with sick people and hypothermia should be avoided, since the body is not protected from infections during this period.
- After surgery, a person should monitor the condition of the sutures.
Dieting after surgery
It is important to maintain proper nutrition during rehabilitation. In the first days after excision of an organ, a person is supplied with food intravenously. After a few days, the patient begins to eat on his own. It is useful after such an operation to use freshly prepared food, while it should be easily digestible, with trace elements and vitamins.
In the recovery period, the patient is better to reduce the load on the liver and kidneys. Instead of regular tea, it is recommended to consume kidney, but its use must necessarily be agreed with the doctor. It is also useful to drink fruit drinks made from cranberries and cranberries, as well as bearberry or dandelion root tea.
After resection of the kidney, eggs, sour cream, honey and a variety of vegetables should be added to the diet. It is desirable to boil meat and fish, and not fry. But changing eating habits is necessary gradually, although most restrictions apply immediately after surgery.
Among other things, the patient will have to give up smoked, salty, spicy and fatty foods. It is forbidden to use products containing preservatives, sweets, soda and alcoholic beverages. It is better to refuse rich broths and marinades for the period of rehabilitation.