Kidney Removal

Alternate Names : Nephrectomy

What happens right after the procedure?

After surgery, the person will be taken to the surgery recovery room. He or she is watched closely for a short time. The blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate will be checked often. A urinary catheter will be in place when the person wakes up. This is a tube that drains the urine from the bladder. The urine will be pink colored after the surgery due to mild bleeding. When the person can urinate on their own, the catheter is removed. A tube may be left in the skin incision to drain any blood or fluid from the surgery.

Pain is common after surgery, and pain medications are given as needed. The person will be taken to a hospital room to recover once the anesthesia has worn off. The person will gradually be allowed to eat, starting with a liquid diet 1 to 3 days after surgery.