Nephrectomy is a type of surgical procedure that removes some part of the kidney or the whole of the kidney. It’s a complex procedure wherein a thorough post operative care is required to avoid any infection after a surgery.
Unlike complete nephrectomy where urologic surgeons excise the entire kidney, partial nephrectomy is where urologic surgeons remove unhealthy parts leaving the healthy kidney tissue. It’s also referred to as kidney-sparing or nephron-sparing surgery. It’s used to treat kidney cancer at early stages and in some cases for the treatment of severely damaged kidney.
Partial nephrectomy is indicated for the following category of patients:
• Patients who have been diagnosed with tumors in both kidneys.
• Patients who are at risk of kidney failure due to kidney stones.
• Patients with tumors who have a high likelihood of good outcomes after nephron-sparing surgery.
Kidney-sparing is a complex procedure that requires highly skilled and experienced urologic surgeons. As a matter of fact, it’s more complicated than complete removal of the kidney.
What are the partial nephrectomy side effects?
Although partial nephrectomy is normally a safe operation, it has side effects and complications just like any other surgical procedure. Below are the common partial nephrectomy side effects: 
• Bleeding
This is the most common side effect for almost all types of surgeries. Most studies show that one to two percent present with delayed bleeding from the surgical site. The signs and symptoms of delayed bleeding are hematuria (blood in urine), bruising on the side, and pain in the abdomen. This is generally managed through conservative management.
• Infection
Partial nephrectomy is an invasive procedure. It, therefore, carries potential risk for infections. The surgical team slight mistake of not observing aseptic technique leads to the patient getting infected. This side effect is usually managed by the use of antibiotics.
• Injury to other organs
This is another possible side effect of partial nephrectomy. Because of its complexity, there is always a likelihood of injuring surrounding organs. It demands a lot of expertise and refined hands-on skills.
• Pain
Once patients recover from general anesthesia postoperative, they experience some pain from the surgical site. However, this pain should not be severe and persistent. But this is not the case always as some patients get severe or persistent pain. Analgesics are used to treat pain. Nonetheless, unusual pain will require a doctor’s review.
