Never heard of this, but it sounds exciting indeed! Please wish your nephew all the best. Emma

some doctors have been doing this if native kidneys are safe to remove this way. kidneys are bagged, crushed and removed.
my doctor was not willing to do this for me, maybe because of the frequent infections.
at any rate, bag, crush & remove laprascopically is a much easier operation.

That's pretty amazing. Do you know what the technical name for the procedure is? I'd like to research it more.

Wow! No I've never heard of this. I think it's a great step forward. My kidneys take up so much room as it is I'd love to have them out of there if I ever agreed to a transplant.

look into laporascopic nephrectomy. this is not new, its been going on for at least 10 years, thats before my nephrectomy. I have been out of the market for one for that long but I've not heard anything but good about it. not everyone is eligible for it and not all drs. will do it.

Wowzer! Yes, we will want to know all about this!!! Want to know the procedure, and how he does afterwards, EVERY LITTLE DETAIL! May want to do it myself!

Yes, I knew of this option. It wouldn't be possible for someone like me who has massive kidneys and a massive liver. My kidneys would not fit through such a small space and there would be no room for manoevre in my abdomen.

As spiderwoman says, there is lots of information available online. This link is quite detailed:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg136/chapter/2-the-procedure

The paper contains further links for more information on particular areas. There's also a video on YouTube for those who would like to see how it's done.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rRzsEDQfJRs

Best wishes to your nephew Norma,

Chewitt

Well, after reading the detail all about this surgery, I am not so sure I would want it done! The word GROSS, comes to mind! I know that Vanderbilt is one of the best hospital and sure hope they have improved over the years, this particular type of surgery. Did you read all about it Heather? Thanks for the info chewitt! Had they done this during his transplant, it would have saved a lot for him, but they told him that insurance won't pay for kidney removal unless they are causing severe problems. So now there are issues and they will pay! Doesn't make much sense to me. What do they consider issues or problems? Isn't kidney failure a complication? Oh well, nothing we can do about it, no one can fight with insurance companies!

I had a laporascopic nephrectomy of my left kidney in 2011 (I was 25 at the time). My kidney function was still good but the kidney was causing too much pain. The surgery was done by a robotic machine. They made 2 incisions in the abdomen and one through my belly button. They shredded my kidney while it was still in me. then sucked it out. I was in the hospital until I could pee ( to show my other kidney was working). I went home the day after surgery. After the surgery when they were going to move me from recovery to my room, I missed a dose of iv pain meds during the move. It was terrible. I would make sure he has someone with him at all times keep track of time for medicine so in the shuffle he doesn't miss a dose. The 2 days after the surgery were a blur of taking pain meds every 4 hours and going back to sleep. They used a gas to bloat my abdomen during surgery and it caused my shoulder to throb for a few days after. I just iced it while laying down. My best advice would be to take it easy after the surgery for as long as he needs to heal. (And take stool softener!) It was the right decision for me and I do not regret it at all! I hope that helps!

Great post Charissa.

I so agree, thank you! :)

Yes I agree Charissa, good advise and I will be sure to pass it on to my nephew! Thank you!

Well, I haven't been able to watch the video yet... it has been pretty chaotic around my house... and I am just feeling too sensitive, heh. But living so far away from a transplant center here in Alaska... and yet having so much difficulty with these crowded organs... I really will be following this. So much progress has been made, but I don't know, just don't know.

Please do keep up posted on your nephew Norma, with details.. like how big is his kidneys, how old is her, etc. I know that I don't have many infections but I can tell you, I am so crazy careful about getting infections, that it would be difficult. My issue is indigestions from the crowding, systemic fungal infections and viral infections... major fatigue from it all.

Oh Heather, I am so sorry to hear you are having to suffer with yet another issue :(. It seems as if transplants aren't the miracle we wish they were, but someday ... My nephew is not very big, I would say 5 foot 9 or 10, but his belly is enormous!! I don't know how many pounds they weigh or any other specifics, but will find out. He looks very uncomfortable just like I do. Mine are enormous now too, doesn't seem fair! Old age is hard enough without adding PKD to the mix!! You should see me trying to get into a pair of pants, it's just a joke someone is playing on me!! Oh and my nephew is 58. I promise I will keep you informed. Could you go back to Seattle Heather? Or us there somewhere nearer! I know that Vanderbilt is the elite!! It's in Memphis, tenn. I wish you could try and go there? If I were you, I would investigate it, do it ok? Look into it and see what you can find out! Lots if love, Norma ....

Thanks Norma.... I really will be keeping track of your nephew. Is he scheduled for surgery yet? What is the timetable? I think I will wait and see how it goes for him. I think for me, I am just tired, and a little bit in denial of it all... how much time and energy can we spend on our health concerns? I keep hoping that I could get an appointment with the Seattle team when they come to Alaska, but they always seem to forget me. But with some hope and information, perhaps I will push forward...