Partial and Total Nephrectomy (kidney surgery)

A partial nephrectomy is a type of surgery in which a surgeon removes part of your kidney to treat a disease or injury. Once your surgeon corrects the condition, they’ll reconstruct your kidney.

A surgeon’s goal during a partial nephrectomy is to remove the diseased or damaged part of your kidney while leaving as much healthy kidney tissue as possible. Maintaining kidney function is important because your kidneys are the main filters of your body, and they’re essential for life. Having two functioning kidneys helps your overall kidney function.

During a typical open partial nephrectomy, your healthcare provider will make one or more large cuts (incisions) in your abdomen. Your provider usually recommends this type of procedure if you have a large or invasive tumor on your kidney.

They may also perform the procedure laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than traditional open surgery. Your surgeon will make two to four small incisions in your abdomen of half an inch or less. They then insert a thin rod with a camera at the end (laparoscope) into one incision to see the inside of your body. They insert surgical tools into the other incisions.