What type of procedure is a nephrectomy?

A nephrectomy is specifically defined as the surgical removal of a kidney. This procedure may be performed for a variety of reasons, including kidney cancer, severe kidney damage, or donor nephrectomy for transplantation purposes. Understanding the terminology associated with surgical procedures is vital; the prefix "nephr-" refers to the kidney, which is key in identifying this procedure.

In contrast, the other options cover entirely different organs and corresponding procedures. The heart removal pertains to cardiac surgeries, the gallbladder removal is related to cholecystectomy, and the spleen removal concerns a splenectomy. Therefore, the characteristic and medical terminology associated with nephrectomy clearly point to its correct identification as the removal of the kidney.