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Definition

Nephrectomy is the surgical procedure of removing a kidney or section of a kidney.

Purpose

Nephrectomy, or kidney removal, is performed on patients with cancer of the kidney (renal cell carcinoma); a disease in which cysts (sac-like structures) displace healthy kidney tissue (polycystic kidney disease); and serious kidney infections. It is also used to remove a healthy kidney from a donor for the purposes of kidney transplantation.

Precautions

Because the kidney is responsible for filtering wastes and fluid from the bloodstream, kidney function is critical to life. Nephrectomy candidates suffering from serious kidney disease, cancer, or infection usually have...