Specific surgical approaches for kidney surgery will expose you to different types of risk. For instance, a retroperitoneal laproscopy will have less risk of intestinal complications than an open and direct approach from the abdomen. Complications can also arise from a lack of blood supply to the kidney during the procedure. You and your surgeon will evaluate the risks and benefits of each approach before making a final decision.
Bleeding
According to George Washington Medical Faculty Associates, a transfusion may be necessary to replace blood that has been lost during kidney surgery. You may want to consider an autologous blood transfusion. This means that you donate your own blood several weeks before the procedure is scheduled. At the time of surgery, you may require a transfusion and the surgeons can use the blood you stored at an earlier date. This reduces your risk of developing a negative blood transfusion reaction.
Infection
Infection is a possible complication any time you have surgery. According to Cancer Help from the United Kingdom, infection is one of the most common complications following kidney surgery. Many surgeons will prescribe antibiotics for several days following surgery as a prophylactic measure. This means that you may not have an infection but in order to prevent one, the surgeons will order a broad spectrum antibiotic. Signs of a wound infection include redness, pain, swelling, oozing from the wound and fever.
Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure occurs between 1 and 5 percent of the time after complicated surgeries or when blood flow to the kidney is disrupted. According to the Mayo Clinic, if your kidneys fail, they suddenly lose the ability to function and dangerous levels of waste material build up in your blood stream. This is a serious medical condition that requires intensive care treatment. Depending upon the cause of the kidney failure after surgery, the damage may be reversible.
Tissue Injury
According to George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, damage to the surrounding tissue and organ systems may also occur with a laproscopic surgical approach, although the risk is greater during an open abdominal incision. During a laproscopic surgery, the physician has a two-dimensional view of the surgical field and limited vision of the surrounding tissue. Tissue may be damaged because of instrument failure or misplaced instruments. Structures that are in close proximity to the kidneys and at high risk of injury include the spleen, liver, lung, pancreas, gallbladder and bowel.
References
- George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates: Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
- Cancer Research: Having Your Kidney Cancer Operation
- University of Chicago: Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Your Kidney Surgery
- Anesthesiology; "Predictors of Postoperative Acute Renal Failure after Noncardiac Surgery in Patients with Previously Normal Renal Function"; Kheterpal and Tremper; December 2007
