Chronic diseases, acute infection, malignant neoplasms are the main reasons why a urologist decides to remove a kidney. Agreeing to this procedure is not easy, but when it comes to saving a patient's life, the decision is made instantly.
Kidney nephrectomy is a rather complicated operation, but it is not a sentence. Subject to the basic rules of the rehabilitation period, the recovery of the body occurs quickly and without complications. We will tell you how to quickly return to your usual way of life in our article.
A little about the procedure itself
Kidney nephrectomy - an operation to remove the affected organ. It is removed through a small incision in the skin or by laparoscopy. The first method provides good access to the kidney and neighboring organs, but leaves a painful suture and increases the rehabilitation period.
After laparoscopy, a small seam remains on the patient's body,the diameter of which does not exceed 2 cm. The risk of bleeding and injuries of internal organs is reduced, so recovery is much faster and more painless.
Both types of surgery are performed under general anesthesia. The patient is placed on one side and fixed on the operating table with elastic bandages.
How is surgery performed on patients with one kidney?
Neprectomy is radical, simple and partial. In the first case, the diseased organ is removed completely. Such operations are performed on people with two kidneys.
A simple procedure is performed in cases where the patient immediately transplanted a he althy kidney from a donor. Similar situations occur when the patient has only one filtering organ.
Neprectomy of a single kidney can also be partial, when the surgeon cuts off the affected part of the organ. Such operations are performed when neoplasms are detected on the kidney. Rehabilitation after cutting off the affected part is much easier, the patient quickly returns to his usual way of life.
What happens to the body after surgery?
After surgery, there comes a time when a he althy kidney is faced with increased stress. To ensure the normal functioning of the body, she has to replace the missing organ.
Filtration functions increase by 1.5 times, and the kidney itself increases significantly in size. However, this is not considered a pathology. The remaining organ can properly regulate the water-s alt balance for many years.balance in the body. And in order for him to work as long as possible without failures, you should reduce the load on him and go through the rehabilitation process correctly.
Recommendations for the early recovery period
For patients who had to undergo kidney nephrectomy, the postoperative period begins in a hospital setting. Its average duration is from 1 to 6 weeks. The length of stay in the clinic depends on the patient's well-being and the likelihood of complications.
On the first day after the operation, strict adherence to bed rest is required. Patients can lie exclusively on their backs, but by the evening of the first day, they can roll over on their he althy side.
On the second and third days, doctors are allowed to sit, and on the fourth day, they recommend gently getting up and moving around next to the bed. To prevent congestion in the body and the formation of blood clots, experts recommend doing the following:
- circular movements of arms and legs;
- breathing exercises;
- dream on different sides.
As soon as the patient begins to move around the ward without assistance, go for walks and go to the toilet, he is discharged for recovery at home. In this case, the patient will need to periodically come for an examination to the urologist to monitor the state of he alth.
Rehabilitation after kidney nephrectomy: postoperative period at home
After discharge from the hospital, the operated person is recommended to wearspecial bandage. If pain occurs periodically, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory and painkillers.
Complete recovery of the body occurs 6 months after surgery. During this period, it is very important to eat right and avoid overwork. So a he althy kidney quickly adapts to new conditions of functioning and increased loads.
To reduce the negative impact on the filtering organ, the patient is recommended to follow a special diet.
Principles of nutrition after nephrectomy
After 2-3 hours after the operation, the patient is allowed to rinse his mouth with water. On the first day, only liquids are allowed. On the second day, you can eat yogurt, fat-free cottage cheese, drink weak broth.
Diet after kidney nephrectomy is based on the use of easily digestible food. The diet consists of low-calorie foods and dishes with a minimum protein content.
Food should contain enough vitamins to maintain the body. You need to eat a little, but often. During the day, 5-6 meals are allowed. Daily s alt intake is limited to 5 grams, and bread - 400 grams.
All dishes can be boiled, stewed and steamed. The amount of fat is reduced to a minimum. Salads are dressed with sunflower oil and fat-free sour cream.
Forbidden foods
Diet after kidney nephrectomy eliminates the use of food that can provoke urolithiasis. First of allit's about milk. It can be replaced with cottage cheese puddings and casseroles.
The list of prohibited foods also includes:
- all legumes;
- sweet rich pastries;
- white and s alty black bread;
- fatty meats and fish;
- smoked meats, sausages, sausages;
- canned food, pickles, marinades, seasonings;
- mushrooms;
- greens (except dill);
- strong tea and coffee;
- mineral water;
- carbonated drinks.
Foods high in calcium should be taken with extreme caution.
Detailed recommendations on nutrition are given by the attending physician after surgery (kidney nephrectomy). If the patient strictly adheres to them, after a while, you can gradually remove severe food restrictions.
What foods can I include in my diet?
After removing a kidney, it is very important to correctly compose your own menu. To get used to the special regime, it is recommended to think over the dishes for the coming week in advance.
Nutrition after kidney nephrectomy should be sparing. The diet may consist of the following products:
- rye bread;
- vegetables;
- fruit;
- cereals;
- pasta (from durum wheat);
- fat-free kefir, curdled milk;
- yogurts;
- watermelons, melons;
- lean veal, rabbit (no more than 100 grams per day);
- chicken;
- chickensteam omelette eggs.
Black tea and coffee are recommended to be replaced with rosehip broth, fruit compotes, diluted juice. You can also use herbal infusions and lightly brewed green tea.
The amount of fluid consumed should not exceed 1.5 liters per day. This volume includes liquid dishes and teas. In some cases, your doctor may increase or decrease your daily water intake.
Approximate daily ration
Sudden transition to a new way of life sometimes becomes a problem. But if you have undergone a nephrectomy for kidney cancer, you should not neglect the recommendations of doctors. To transition to a new eating schedule, make a clear daily meal plan.
It might look like this:
- Breakfast (8.00): vegetable salad, rye bread with butter, apple compote.
- Second breakfast (11.00): porridge with milk or scrambled eggs, rosehip decoction.
- Lunch (14.00): Vegetarian soup, fish baked in foil, vegetable stew, light tea.
- Lunch (17.00): buckwheat porridge on the water, steamed chicken cutlets, two pears, apple juice.
- Dinner (19.00): biscuit biscuits, a glass of fat-free yogurt.
Intervals between meals should not exceed 4 hours. At a later time of the day, it is better not to overload the body. If you feel hungry, snack on crackers or diet cookies.
During the day, fresh fruit, baked apples, homemade jelly, compote fromdried fruit.
Restriction of physical activity during the rehabilitation period
Regardless of which side the kidney was removed from (nephrectomy of the left kidney or right), the recommendations for the physical activity of the operated are absolutely the same. In the first 60 days, the patient needs maximum rest.
To strengthen the body, it is recommended to take walks every day. In the first days, their duration should not exceed 30 minutes, but after a couple of weeks this time can be gradually increased.
Restrictions apply to lifting weights as well. In the first 3 months, do not lift bags that weigh more than 3 kg.
To unload the remaining organ, it is useful to take bath procedures, but only if there are no other contraindications for their implementation. The frequency of going to the bath should not exceed 1 time in seven days.
Workability after kidney nephrectomy
The patient's lifestyle after surgery is reduced to maintaining the functioning of the remaining filtering organ. If the rehabilitation was successful, then after a couple of months a person can return to the usual rhythm of life and go to work. However, if the patient's activity is associated with heavy physical exertion, a more gentle profession should be chosen.
With a long and difficult recovery, disability registration is possible. A sick leave certificate is issued in case of too serious violations in the body, if the patient is unable to take care of himself and inloss of normal life.
Can a relapse be prevented?
For people who have lost one kidney, it is very important to maintain the he alth of the second filtering organ. For this reason, many are interested in the issue of disease prevention. To prevent the recurrence of kidney cancer after nephrectomy and to avoid the development of acute infections, follow these rules:
- Take a contrast shower every morning. It helps to harden the body.
- Carefully monitor your diet. Stick to your meal schedule.
- Drink more water, natural juices, fruit drinks.
- Do not start infectious processes, treat colds in time.
- Stay outside every day.
- Keep basic personal hygiene.
In order to quickly identify any pathologies, visit a urologist twice a year and regularly give urine for analysis. This will allow you to detect a deviation in the functioning of the kidney in a timely manner and begin immediate treatment.
If you experience pain in the lumbar region, immediately go to a consultation with a specialist. Aching pain may indicate the beginning of the inflammatory process. In such a situation, an ultrasound should be done.
Conclusions
An operation to partially or completely remove a kidney is a complex process, followed by a long recovery of the body. However, the decision of the urologist to perform a nephrectomy of the right kidney (or left) is not a verdict.
The ability to lead a full and active life is evidenced by the reviews of many patients who have undergone such operations. People of different ages note that if there were no complications at the initial stage, then rehabilitation is very fast.
Many patients are concerned about life expectancy with one kidney. Doctors say that it depends on the condition of the filtering organ and the patient's lifestyle after surgery. If you pay attention to your he alth, engage in strengthening the body, arrange fasting days for the second kidney, the chances of living to a ripe old age will be quite high.
