Chronic diseases, an acute infection, malignant neoplasms are the main reasons why a urologist decides to remove a kidney. Agreeing to this procedure is not easy, but when it comes to saving the patient’s life, the decision is made instantly.
A kidney nephrectomy is a rather complicated operation, but it is not a sentence. Subject to the basic rules of the rehabilitation period, the body is restored quickly and without complications. We will tell you how to quickly return to your usual way of life in our article.
A little about the procedure itself
Kidney nephrectomy is an operation to remove an affected organ. It is removed through a small incision in the skin or using laparoscopy. The first method provides good access to the kidney and neighboring organs, but leaves a painful suture and helps to increase the rehabilitation period.
After laparoscopy, a small suture remains on the patient’s body, the diameter of which does not exceed 2 cm. The risk of bleeding and injuries of internal organs is reduced, therefore, recovery is much faster and more painless.
Both types of surgery are performed under general anesthesia. The patient is placed on one side and fixed on the operating table with elastic bandages.
How is one kidney surgery performed?
Nephrectomy is radical, simple and partial. In the first case, the diseased organ is removed completely. Such operations are performed by people with two kidneys.
A simple procedure is carried out in cases where a healthy kidney is immediately transplanted from the donor to the patient. Similar situations occur when the patient has only one filtering organ.
A single kidney nephrectomy can also be partial when the surgeon cuts off the affected part of the organ. Such operations are performed when neoplasms are detected on the kidney. Rehabilitation after cutting off the affected part is much easier, the patient quickly returns to his usual way of life.
What happens to the body after surgery?
After surgery, there comes a time when a healthy kidney is faced with increased stress. To ensure the normal functioning of the body, it has to replace the missing organ.
Filtration functions increase 1.5 times, and the kidney itself significantly increases in size. However, this is not considered a pathology. The remaining organ can for many years correctly regulate the water-salt balance in the body. And so that he worked as long as possible without failures, you should reduce the load on him and correctly go through the rehabilitation process.
Recommendations for an early rehabilitation period
For patients who had to undergo a kidney nephrectomy, the postoperative period begins in a hospital setting. Its average duration is from 1 to 6 weeks. Duration of stay in the clinic depends on the well-being of the patient and on the likelihood of complications.
On the first day after surgery, strict adherence to bed rest is required. Patients can lie exclusively on their backs, but by the evening of the first day they can roll over to their healthy side.
On the second and third day, doctors are allowed to sit, and on the fourth day they are recommended to carefully get up and move around next to the bed. To prevent stagnation in the body and the formation of blood clots, experts recommend performing the following actions:
- circular movements with arms and legs;
- breathing exercises;
- sleep on different sides.
As soon as the patient begins to move around the ward without outside help, go for walks and go to the toilet, he is discharged for recovery at home. In this case, the patient will need to periodically come for a visit to the urologist to monitor the state of health.
Rehabilitation after nephrectomy of the kidney: postoperative period at home
After discharge from the hospital, the operated person is advised to wear a special bandage. If pain periodically occurs, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
Full recovery of the body occurs 6 months after surgery. During this period, it is very important to eat right and not to overwork. So a healthy kidney quickly adapts to new conditions of functioning and increased stress.
To reduce the negative impact on the filtering organ, the patient is recommended to follow a special diet.
Principles of nutrition after nephrectomy
2-3 hours after surgery, the patient is allowed to rinse his mouth with water. On the first day, only liquid is allowed. On the second day, you can eat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, drink a weak broth.
The diet after a kidney nephrectomy is based on the use of easily digestible food. The diet consists of low-calorie foods and dishes with a minimum protein content.
Food should contain enough vitamins to support the body. You need to eat a little, but often. During the day, 5-6 meals are allowed. Daily salt intake is limited to 5 grams, and bread - 400 grams.
All dishes can be cooked, stewed and steamed. The amount of fat is minimized. Salads are seasoned with sunflower oil and low-fat sour cream.
Prohibited Products
A diet after a kidney nephrectomy excludes the use of food, which can provoke an urolithiasis. This primarily concerns milk. It can be replaced with curd puddings and casseroles.
The list of prohibited products also includes:
- all legumes;
- sweet pastries;
- white and salted brown bread;
- fatty meats and fish;
- smoked meats, sausages, sausages;
- canned food, pickles, marinades, seasonings;
- mushrooms;
- greens (except dill);
- strong tea and coffee;
- mineral water;
- carbonated drinks.
Special care should be taken in foods that are high in calcium.
Detailed nutritional recommendations are given by the attending physician after surgery (kidney nephrectomy). If the patient strictly adheres to them, after a while, you can gradually remove the severe restrictions on food.
What foods can be included in the diet?
After removing the kidney, it is very important to properly create your own menu. To get used to the special regime, it is recommended to think over dishes in advance for the coming week.
Nutrition after kidney nephrectomy should be gentle. The diet may consist of the following products:
- Rye bread;
- vegetables;
- fruits;
- cereals;
- pasta (from durum wheat);
- fat-free kefir, yogurt;
- yogurts;
- watermelons, melons;
- lean veal, rabbit meat (not more than 100 grams per day);
- a hen;
- chicken eggs in the form of a steam omelet.
It is recommended to replace black tea and coffee with a rosehip broth, fruit compotes, diluted juice. You can also use herbal infusions and slightly brewed green tea.
The amount of fluid consumed should not exceed 1.5 liters per day. This volume includes liquid dishes and teas. In some cases, the doctor may increase or decrease the daily rate of water.
Approximate daily diet
A sharp transition to a new lifestyle can sometimes become a problem. But if you have had a nephrectomy for kidney cancer, you should not neglect the recommendations of doctors. To get a new meal plan, make a clear daily meal plan.
It might look like this:
- Breakfast (8.00): vegetable salad, rye bread and butter, apple compote.
- Lunch (11.00): porridge with milk or scrambled eggs, a decoction of rose hips.
- Lunch (14.00): vegetarian soup, fish baked in foil, vegetable stew, low-brewed tea.
- Afternoon snack (17.00): buckwheat porridge on the water, steamed chicken meatballs, two pears, apple juice.
- Dinner (19.00): biscuit cookies, a glass of low-fat kefir.
Intervals between meals should not exceed 4 hours. At a later time of the day, it is better not to overload the body. If you feel hungry, have a snack with crackers or diet biscuits.
During the day, fresh fruits, baked apples, homemade jelly, dried fruit compote are perfect for a snack.
Restriction of physical activity during the rehabilitation period
Regardless of which side the kidney was removed (nephrectomy of the left kidney or right), recommendations for the physical activity of the operated person are exactly the same. In the first 60 days, the patient needs maximum rest.
To strengthen the body, it is recommended to take walks every day. In the early days, their duration should not exceed 30 minutes, but after a couple of weeks this time can be gradually increased.
Restrictions are also imposed on weight lifting. In the first 3 months, bags with a weight exceeding 3 kg must not be lifted.
To unload the remaining organ, it is useful to take bath procedures, but only if there are no other contraindications for their implementation. The frequency of trips to the bathhouse should not exceed 1 time in seven days.
Disability after kidney nephrectomy
The patient’s lifestyle after surgery is reduced to maintaining the functioning of the remaining filtering organ. If the rehabilitation was successful, then after a couple of months a person can return to the usual rhythm of life and go to work. However, if the patient's activity is associated with heavy physical exertion, you should choose a more gentle profession.
With prolonged and difficult recovery, disability registration is possible. An incapacity certificate is issued in case of too serious violations in the body, if the patient is unable to take care of himself, and in the event of a loss of normal functioning.
Can relapse be prevented?
For people who have lost one kidney, it is very important to maintain the health of the second filtering organ. For this reason, many are interested in the issue of disease prevention. To prevent a recurrence of kidney cancer after a nephrectomy and to exclude the development of acute infections, observe the following rules:
- Take a contrast shower every morning. It contributes to the hardening of the body.
- Watch your diet carefully. Follow your meal schedule.
- Drink more water, natural juices, fruit drinks.
- Do not start infectious processes, treat colds in time.
- Daily walk in the fresh air.
- Follow basic personal hygiene.
In order to quickly identify any pathologies, visit a urologist twice a year and regularly take urine for analysis. This will allow you to timely detect deviations in the kidney and begin immediate treatment.
If you experience pain in the lumbar region, immediately go for a consultation with a specialist. Aching pain may indicate the onset of the inflammatory process. In such a situation, an ultrasound should be done.
conclusions
The operation to partially or completely remove the kidney is a complex process, followed by a long recovery of the body. Nevertheless, the decision of the urologist to conduct a nephrectomy of the right kidney (or left) is not a sentence.
The ability to lead a full and active life is evidenced by the reviews of many patients who underwent such operations. People of different ages note that if there were no complications at the initial stage, then rehabilitation is very fast.
Many patients are concerned about the lifespan of a single kidney. Doctors say that it depends on the condition of the filtering organ and the patient’s lifestyle after surgery. If you pay attention to your health, engage in strengthening the body, arrange fasting days for the second kidney, the chances of surviving to a very old age will be quite high.