Open Nephrectomy: Experience in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Nephrectomy is a surgical operation that requires removal of the kidney. Indications for nephrectomy vary across the globe. Scope of disorders, available human and material resources affect the type and method of nephrectomy offered in a centre.

Aims: To study the indications for nephrectomy and outcome of treatment in a resource limited tertiary hospital.

Methods: All patients who had nephrectomy between January 2007 and October 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Data obtained from the records departments, ward and theatre records were collated. Information gathered included the age, clinical and radiological features, indications for and type of nephrectomies as well as outcome of treatment. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. (IBM SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL).

Results: Fifty seven patients had nephrectomy within the period. The mean age was 36.97+/-19.16 years. Twenty seven patients (47.37%) were male while 30 (52.63%) were female, with Male: Female ratio of 1:1.1.

Benign and malignant conditions accounted for 42.11% and 57.89% respectively. The most common malignant condition was renal cell carcinoma. Abdominal pain and swelling as well as haematuria were the main clinical features. All the patients had ultrasound scan with majority have multiple findings. Renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 29 patients (50.88%) while 17 patients (29.82%) had renal stones with non-functioning kidney. Fifty two patients (91.23%) had good and satisfactory outcome.

Conclusion: Only open nephrectomies were performed in this centre. Though malignant conditions are more common, late presentation of benign conditions make nephrectomy inevitable in conditions that in more developed societies will not have led to irremediable renal damage.