Nephrectomy Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Nephrectomy Overview This is a surgical procedure in which a part of a kidney or the complete kidney is removed. Nephrectomy is normally used to remove cancerous or non-cancerous tumours from the kidney. Features The length of your hospital stay and recovery time will vary based on your overall health and the type of nephrectomy. After the procedure, it is worthwhile to keep the following in mind:A catheter may be placed for a short time in the bladder to drain urine from the bodyLight, everyday activities can be resumed a short time after the surgery. However, it is recommended to avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks after surgeryAfter recovery, you can expect to return to your usual routine and activities; nephrectomy typically does not affect your quality of life Treatments and Procedures Nephrectomy is categorised into two main types —radical and partial. The complete kidney is removed during a radical nephrectomy. In a partial nephrectomy, only a part of the kidney is removed, and the healthy tissue is left in place.There are three approaches to a nephrectomy:Open: This is a major surgical procedure in which a surgeon opens up the abdomen and obtains a full view of the internal organsLaparoscopic: This is a technique that uses a thin tube called a laparoscope to perform a minimally invasive surgery in the abdomenRobotic: This is a robot-assisted surgical procedure to remove a part of or the complete kidney