What is the term for the surgical removal of a kidney?

The surgical removal of a kidney is referred to as nephrectomy. This procedure may be performed for various reasons, including the presence of tumors, chronic kidney disease, or significant injury to the kidney.

Nephrectomy involves the complete removal of one kidney or, in some cases, part of a kidney. The procedure is critical in situations where the kidney is severely compromised, ensuring that the patient can either continue to function with one healthy kidney or address the underlying pathology effectively.

Understanding the differences among the terms is also important. Nephrolithotomy relates to the surgical removal of kidney stones, which is a different procedure altogether. Nephroectomy, while it sounds similar, is not a recognized term in medical terminology; it appears to be a misspelling of nephrectomy. Nephrolysis involves the surgical separation of a kidney from surrounding structures, which is not the same as removal.

Recognizing these distinctions reinforces the understanding of renal surgery terminology and procedures, with nephrectomy being the specific term for kidney removal.