Open Kidney Exploration

Open kidney exploration is a type of surgery. It is most often done to treat injuries to the kidneys. In rare cases, it may be done to help find the cause of a problem in the kidneys. During the surgery, a cut (incision) is made in your belly (abdomen) or side. The provider treats your kidneys through this incision.

 

Getting ready for surgery

 

Before your surgery, be sure to follow any instructions from your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking. You may need to stop taking all or some of these before the test. This includes:

• All prescription medicines
• Aspirin and blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants)
• Over-the-counter medicines such as  ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)
• Street drugs
• Herbs, vitamins and other supplements 

Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before surgery. This includes coffee, water, gum, and mints. If you have been instructed to take medicines, take them with a small sip of water.

 

Risks and possible complications ·     Bleeding (may require a blood transfusion) ·     Infection ·     Blood clots ·     Pneumonia or other lung problems ·     Hernia at the incision site ·     Damage to nearby nerves, blood vessels, soft tissues, or organs ·     Damage to or loss of the affected kidney ·     Kidney or other organ failure ·     Heart attack or stroke ·     Risks of anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will discuss these with you.

 

The day of surgery

The surgery itself takes a few hours. However, you will stay in the hospital for a few nights as you recover.

 

Before surgery begins

• An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein in your arm or hand to supply fluids and medicines such as antibiotics.
• You may be given medicine to prevent blood clots (anticoagulant).
• To put you to sleep and to keep you free of pain during the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia. This medicine puts you in a deep sleep through the surgery.
• A tube may also be placed in your throat to help you breathe. 

During surgery

• The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in your belly (abdomen) or side.
• The surgeon moves tissues aside to reach your kidneys. He or she may clamp blood vessels leading to your kidneys to help control bleeding.
• The surgeon repairs any injuries as much as possible. First, the surgeon takes steps to stop any bleeding. Then he or she cleans the injuries. The surgeon removes any damaged tissue then closes the injury area with stitches (sutures) or other sealing products.
• If repair cannot save your kidney, the surgeon may remove part or all of it.
• When the surgery is complete, the surgeon closes the skin incision with stitches or staples.
• A small tube (drain) may be placed near the incision to drain any fluid that can build up after the surgery. 

Recovering in the hospital

• After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room. There, you will wake up from the anesthesia.
• You may feel sleepy and may have an upset stomach (nausea).
• If a breathing tube was used, your throat may be sore at first.
• When you are ready, you will be taken to your hospital room.

 While in the hospital:

• You will be given medications to manage your pain. Let your provider know if your pain is not going away.
• You will first get IV fluids and in a day or so, you will start on a liquid diet. You will then slowly return to a normal diet.
• You will be shown ways to cough and breathe to help you keep your lungs clear and prevent pneumonia. 

Recovering at home

• After your hospital stay, If possible, have someone stay with you for the next few days to help care for you.
• Recovery time varies for each person. Your provider will tell you when you can return to your normal routine. Until then, follow the instructions your provider gives you. 

Make sure to:

• Take all medicines as directed.
• Care for your incision and drain as instructed.
• Follow your provider’s guidelines for showering. Do not swim, bathe, use a hot tub, or do other activities that cover the incision with water until your provider says it is okay.
• Do not lift anything heavy or do strenuous activities, as directed by your provider.
• Do not drive until your provider says it is okay. Do not drive if you are taking medicines that make you drowsy or sleepy.
• Walk at least a few times a day, gradually increasing your pace and distance.
• Do not strain to pass stool. If needed, take stool softeners as directed by your provider.
• Drink plenty of water. This helps prevent urine odor and dehydration.
• Follow any other diet instructions you are given. For instance, you may be told to limit the amount of salty foods you eat. You may also be told to avoid alcohol. 

Follow-up

• You will have follow-up visits so your healthcare provider can check how well you are healing.
• If your drain, stitches, or staples need to be removed, this will likely be done in 7 days.
• Going forward, you may need regular visits with your provider. During these visits, you may have routine tests to check how well your kidneys are working. 

When to call your healthcare provider Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following: Chest pain or trouble breathing (call 911) Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider Symptoms of infection at an incision site. These include increased redness or swelling (inflammation), warmth, more pain or bad-smelling drainage. Pain that cannot be controlled with medicines Nausea or vomiting that won’t go away No urination within 8 hours No bowel movement within 2 days Pain or swelling in your legs

Open Kidney Exploration

Open kidney exploration is a type of surgery. It is most often done to treat injuries to the kidneys. In rare cases, it may be done to help find the cause of a problem in the kidneys. During the surgery, a cut (incision) is made in your belly (abdomen) or side. The provider treats your kidneys through this incision.

 

Getting ready for surgery

 

Before your surgery, be sure to follow any instructions from your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking. You may need to stop taking all or some of these before the test. This includes:

• All prescription medicines
• Aspirin and blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants)
• Over-the-counter medicines such as  ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)
• Street drugs
• Herbs, vitamins and other supplements 

Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before surgery. This includes coffee, water, gum, and mints. If you have been instructed to take medicines, take them with a small sip of water.

 

Risks and possible complications ·     Bleeding (may require a blood transfusion) ·     Infection ·     Blood clots ·     Pneumonia or other lung problems ·     Hernia at the incision site ·     Damage to nearby nerves, blood vessels, soft tissues, or organs ·     Damage to or loss of the affected kidney ·     Kidney or other organ failure ·     Heart attack or stroke ·     Risks of anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will discuss these with you.

 

The day of surgery

The surgery itself takes a few hours. However, you will stay in the hospital for a few nights as you recover.

 

Before surgery begins

• An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein in your arm or hand to supply fluids and medicines such as antibiotics.
• You may be given medicine to prevent blood clots (anticoagulant).
• To put you to sleep and to keep you free of pain during the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia. This medicine puts you in a deep sleep through the surgery.
• A tube may also be placed in your throat to help you breathe. 

During surgery

• The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in your belly (abdomen) or side.
• The surgeon moves tissues aside to reach your kidneys. He or she may clamp blood vessels leading to your kidneys to help control bleeding.
• The surgeon repairs any injuries as much as possible. First, the surgeon takes steps to stop any bleeding. Then he or she cleans the injuries. The surgeon removes any damaged tissue then closes the injury area with stitches (sutures) or other sealing products.
• If repair cannot save your kidney, the surgeon may remove part or all of it.
• When the surgery is complete, the surgeon closes the skin incision with stitches or staples.
• A small tube (drain) may be placed near the incision to drain any fluid that can build up after the surgery. 

Recovering in the hospital

• After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room. There, you will wake up from the anesthesia.
• You may feel sleepy and may have an upset stomach (nausea).
• If a breathing tube was used, your throat may be sore at first.
• When you are ready, you will be taken to your hospital room.

 While in the hospital:

• You will be given medications to manage your pain. Let your provider know if your pain is not going away.
• You will first get IV fluids and in a day or so, you will start on a liquid diet. You will then slowly return to a normal diet.
• You will be shown ways to cough and breathe to help you keep your lungs clear and prevent pneumonia. 

Recovering at home

• After your hospital stay, If possible, have someone stay with you for the next few days to help care for you.
• Recovery time varies for each person. Your provider will tell you when you can return to your normal routine. Until then, follow the instructions your provider gives you. 

Make sure to:

• Take all medicines as directed.
• Care for your incision and drain as instructed.
• Follow your provider’s guidelines for showering. Do not swim, bathe, use a hot tub, or do other activities that cover the incision with water until your provider says it is okay.
• Do not lift anything heavy or do strenuous activities, as directed by your provider.
• Do not drive until your provider says it is okay. Do not drive if you are taking medicines that make you drowsy or sleepy.
• Walk at least a few times a day, gradually increasing your pace and distance.
• Do not strain to pass stool. If needed, take stool softeners as directed by your provider.
• Drink plenty of water. This helps prevent urine odor and dehydration.
• Follow any other diet instructions you are given. For instance, you may be told to limit the amount of salty foods you eat. You may also be told to avoid alcohol. 

Follow-up

• You will have follow-up visits so your healthcare provider can check how well you are healing.
• If your drain, stitches, or staples need to be removed, this will likely be done in 7 days.
• Going forward, you may need regular visits with your provider. During these visits, you may have routine tests to check how well your kidneys are working. 

When to call your healthcare provider Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following: Chest pain or trouble breathing (call 911) Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider Symptoms of infection at an incision site. These include increased redness or swelling (inflammation), warmth, more pain or bad-smelling drainage. Pain that cannot be controlled with medicines Nausea or vomiting that won’t go away No urination within 8 hours No bowel movement within 2 days Pain or swelling in your legs

Open Kidney Exploration

Open kidney exploration is a type of surgery. It is most often done to treat injuries to the kidneys. In rare cases, it may be done to help find the cause of a problem in the kidneys. During the surgery, a cut (incision) is made in your belly (abdomen) or side. The provider treats your kidneys through this incision.

 

Getting ready for surgery

 

Before your surgery, be sure to follow any instructions from your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking. You may need to stop taking all or some of these before the test. This includes:

• All prescription medicines
• Aspirin and blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants)
• Over-the-counter medicines such as  ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)
• Street drugs
• Herbs, vitamins and other supplements 

Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before surgery. This includes coffee, water, gum, and mints. If you have been instructed to take medicines, take them with a small sip of water.

 

Risks and possible complications ·     Bleeding (may require a blood transfusion) ·     Infection ·     Blood clots ·     Pneumonia or other lung problems ·     Hernia at the incision site ·     Damage to nearby nerves, blood vessels, soft tissues, or organs ·     Damage to or loss of the affected kidney ·     Kidney or other organ failure ·     Heart attack or stroke ·     Risks of anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will discuss these with you.

 

The day of surgery

The surgery itself takes a few hours. However, you will stay in the hospital for a few nights as you recover.

 

Before surgery begins

• An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein in your arm or hand to supply fluids and medicines such as antibiotics.
• You may be given medicine to prevent blood clots (anticoagulant).
• To put you to sleep and to keep you free of pain during the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia. This medicine puts you in a deep sleep through the surgery.
• A tube may also be placed in your throat to help you breathe. 

During surgery

• The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in your belly (abdomen) or side.
• The surgeon moves tissues aside to reach your kidneys. He or she may clamp blood vessels leading to your kidneys to help control bleeding.
• The surgeon repairs any injuries as much as possible. First, the surgeon takes steps to stop any bleeding. Then he or she cleans the injuries. The surgeon removes any damaged tissue then closes the injury area with stitches (sutures) or other sealing products.
• If repair cannot save your kidney, the surgeon may remove part or all of it.
• When the surgery is complete, the surgeon closes the skin incision with stitches or staples.
• A small tube (drain) may be placed near the incision to drain any fluid that can build up after the surgery. 

Recovering in the hospital

• After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room. There, you will wake up from the anesthesia.
• You may feel sleepy and may have an upset stomach (nausea).
• If a breathing tube was used, your throat may be sore at first.
• When you are ready, you will be taken to your hospital room.

 While in the hospital:

• You will be given medications to manage your pain. Let your provider know if your pain is not going away.
• You will first get IV fluids and in a day or so, you will start on a liquid diet. You will then slowly return to a normal diet.
• You will be shown ways to cough and breathe to help you keep your lungs clear and prevent pneumonia. 

Recovering at home

• After your hospital stay, If possible, have someone stay with you for the next few days to help care for you.
• Recovery time varies for each person. Your provider will tell you when you can return to your normal routine. Until then, follow the instructions your provider gives you. 

Make sure to:

• Take all medicines as directed.
• Care for your incision and drain as instructed.
• Follow your provider’s guidelines for showering. Do not swim, bathe, use a hot tub, or do other activities that cover the incision with water until your provider says it is okay.
• Do not lift anything heavy or do strenuous activities, as directed by your provider.
• Do not drive until your provider says it is okay. Do not drive if you are taking medicines that make you drowsy or sleepy.
• Walk at least a few times a day, gradually increasing your pace and distance.
• Do not strain to pass stool. If needed, take stool softeners as directed by your provider.
• Drink plenty of water. This helps prevent urine odor and dehydration.
• Follow any other diet instructions you are given. For instance, you may be told to limit the amount of salty foods you eat. You may also be told to avoid alcohol. 

Follow-up

• You will have follow-up visits so your healthcare provider can check how well you are healing.
• If your drain, stitches, or staples need to be removed, this will likely be done in 7 days.
• Going forward, you may need regular visits with your provider. During these visits, you may have routine tests to check how well your kidneys are working. 

When to call your healthcare provider Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following: Chest pain or trouble breathing (call 911) Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider Symptoms of infection at an incision site. These include increased redness or swelling (inflammation), warmth, more pain or bad-smelling drainage. Pain that cannot be controlled with medicines Nausea or vomiting that won’t go away No urination within 8 hours No bowel movement within 2 days Pain or swelling in your legs