Impact of radical and partial nephrectomy on renal function in patients with renal cancer

To evaluate renal function in renal cancer patients undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN) or partial nephrectomy (PN) (open or laparoscopic - ORN, OPN, LRN or LPN) and to identify risk factors contributing to renal function loss.

We analysed 228 consecutive renal cancer patients admitted for OPN, LPN, ORN or LRN. The variables analysed were age, gender, weight, type of surgery (radical versus partial), type of surgical access (open versus laparoscopic), preoperative renal function and history of hypertension, diabetes or malignancy. Absolute renal function was calculated as the difference in glomerular filtration rate (ΔGFR) between the renal function before (GFR0) and 12 months after surgery (GFR12). The relative renal function of patients undergoing PN and RN was evaluated by the change in chronic kidney disease stage.

LRN caused the greatest loss in absolute renal function, followed by ORN, LPN and OPN. A GFR of ≥60 ml/min was noted for 90 (68.7%) patients before and 65 (49.6%) patients after RN and for 80 (82.5%) patients before and 74 (76.3%) patients after PN. The chronic kidney disease stage dropped to 4 or 5 in the case of 6 (4.6%) patients who underwent RN and 2 (2.1%) patients who underwent PN. Multivariate analysis revealed that only preoperative weight and type of surgery (radical versus partial) had a significant impact on renal function.

Renal function significantly decreased in patients undergoing RN, irrespective of the access route. Patients with preoperative poor renal function are at risk of postoperative end-stage renal disease.