[Outcome of renal function in 114 patients who underwent uninephrectomy for renal cancer]

To evaluate the medium-term and long-term impact of radical nephrectomy on renal function and to identify prognostic factors able to help predict deterioration of renal function in patients treated for renal cancer by radical nephrectomy, with a functionally and morphologically healthy remaining kidney.

Between January 1992 and June 1996, 114 patients (72 males, 42 females) with renal cancer were treated by radical nephrectomy. The contralateral kidney was healthy. The mean age of the patients was 64 years (31-85 years). Pre- and postoperative renal function was assessed by serum creatinine assay, in micromol/l.

105 patients were alive (16 with metastases) and 9 had died. The mean follow-up of the survivors was 19.6 months (3-53 months). A slight elevation of mean serum creatinine was observed in this group after nephrectomy compared to preoperative figures (117.9 micromol/l versus 95.6 micromol/l). 37 patients (35.2%) had a postoperative serum creatinine greater than or equal to 121 micromol/l, most of them were elderly, male (81%) and/or hypertensive (43%) and/or diabetic (11%). 6 (5.7%) of these 37 patients had a serum creatinine greater than or equal to 170 micromol/l and all were hypertensive and/or diabetic.

This study shows that HT, diabetes, advanced age and male sex constitute risk factors for deterioration of renal function. The indication for conservative surgery for T1 T2 N0 M0 tumours should be discussed in the presence of these factors. In their absence and provided the remaining kidney is healthy, renal function remains relatively stable after radical nephrectomy for cancer.