Objectives: To determine indications for adult nephrectomy in our community and the outcome of the procedure in our Institution.
Materials and method: Records of adult patients scheduled for nephrectomy at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital from January 1993 to December 2004 were reviewed. Information extracted and analysed included age of patient, sex, presentation, investigations, indication, type and outcome of nephrectomy, histopathology result and duration of follow up.
Results: During the period, thirty adult patients mean age 42.73 yrs (range 16-80 yrs, M:F = 2:1) were scheduled for nephrectomy. Indications included suspicion of malignancy in 19 (63.3%) patients, protracted loin pain in non-functioning kidney in 2 (6.7%), uncontrollable bleeding in a patient with bilateral polycystic kidney (3.3%), pyonephrosis with septicaemia in a patient (3.3%), kidney injury (grade 5) in 2(6.7%) and kidney donation for transplantation in 3(10%). Ultrasound and intravenous urography were useful in the patients' evaluation. Twenty-seven (90%) patients were operated upon, but only 25 (83.3%) had nephrectomy. Sixteen (53.3%) had radical nephrectomy, 5 (16.7%) had simple nephrectomy, 3 (10%) had nephro-ureterectomy, and one (3.3%) had partial nephrectomy. Major surgical complications included wound sepsis (18.5%) and primary haemorrhage (7.4%). The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 7.4% and 3.7% respectively. Postuninephrectomy, patients' renal function remained stable after an average of 34.05 months follow-up.
Conclusion: Renal tumours constitute the main indication for adult nephrectomy in our community. Kidney injury, kidney donation, and pyonephrosis are relatively uncommon indications. Open nephrectomy, which remains our local practice, is safe and unilateral nephrectomy is compatible with normal life.