About Open Nephroureterectomy
Key Highlights
-
Complete removal of the kidney, entire ureter, and bladder cuff for curative intent in upper tract cancers.Provides direct surgical access, which can be advantageous for large, invasive, or complex tumors.Allows for thorough examination of surrounding tissues and lymph nodes during the procedure.Considered a definitive surgical treatment to eliminate the primary site of cancer.May be the preferred approach when minimally invasive surgery is not feasible due to patient anatomy or prior surgeries.
Who is this surgery for?
- High-grade or invasive urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) of the renal pelvis or ureter.
- Large tumor size or tumor location that makes endoscopic management insufficient or risky.
- Recurrent upper tract tumors after previous conservative treatments.
- Certain benign conditions, such as a severely damaged or non-functioning kidney and ureter due to chronic obstruction or infection, when preservation is not possible.
- Synchronous (simultaneous) tumors in both the kidney and ureter.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive pre-operative evaluation including blood tests, imaging (CT urogram, MRI), and sometimes ureteroscopy with biopsy for diagnosis.
- Assessment of overall health, heart, and lung function to ensure fitness for major surgery.
- Discussion of anesthesia risks and post-operative pain management plan.
- Patients may need to stop certain medications like blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin) several days before surgery.
- Fasting (no food or drink) for 8-12 hours prior to the scheduled procedure time.
- Bowel preparation may be instructed to empty the intestines for better surgical access.
Risks & possible complications
- General surgical risks: Bleeding (hemorrhage), infection at the incision site or internally, and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
- Injury to nearby organs such as the bowel, liver, spleen, or major blood vessels during dissection.
- Formation of a urinary leak or fistula from the bladder closure site.
- Development of a hernia at the incision site in the weeks or months following surgery.
- Long-term risks include reduced kidney function in the remaining kidney and chronic incisional pain.
- Risk of cancer recurrence, either locally or in other parts of the urinary tract.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay typically lasts 5 to 7 days for monitoring, pain control, and ensuring the bladder and incision are healing properly.
- A urinary catheter will remain in place for 1-2 weeks post-surgery to allow the bladder closure to heal.
- Incision care is crucial; patients are instructed on keeping the area clean and dry and watching for signs of infection.
- Physical activity is restricted initially, with no heavy lifting (more than 5-10 kg) for 6-8 weeks to prevent hernia.
- Follow-up appointments are scheduled to remove the catheter, review pathology results, and plan any further treatment like surveillance cystoscopies or chemotherapy.
- Full recovery to normal daily activities, excluding strenuous labor, usually takes 6 to 8 weeks.
-
Typical hospital stay: 5-7 days
-
Expected recovery time: 6-8 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering open nephroureterectomy in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for open nephroureterectomy in India include Medanta The Medicity, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Miot Hospital Chennai, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform open nephroureterectomy. MediFyr helps you compare urologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for open nephroureterectomy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Open Nephroureterectomy in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated urology teams and experience managing patients undergoing open nephroureterectomy.
My dad was admitted to MGM...
My dad was admitted to MGM with a bad fever and we were all worried. Dr. Ramya Shri was the one who really talked to us. She didn't just give medical updates; she explained things in a way we could understand, told us what to watch for at home, and actually listened to our concerns. It made a stressful time much easier to handle.
Urologists for Open Nephroureterectomy
Explore experienced urologists who regularly perform open nephroureterectomy and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 21 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 22 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 9 Years Experience
- Urologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore
- 6 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 8 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road
- 8 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road
- 12 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road
- 11 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 16 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 26 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Kanakapura Road
- 23 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Kanakapura Road
- 17 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Kanakapura Road
- 8 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Kanakapura Road
- 28 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur
- 15 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur
- 23 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 15 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 23 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 36 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 41 Years Experience
- Urologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway