TREATMENT OF  NEPHROPTOSIS

Treatment for symptomatic nephroptosis involves a surgical procedure called nephropexy which involves reattaching the prolapsed kidney back to its original anatomical site. This procedure can be performed laparoscopically and also da Vinci Robot assisted. 

​

This surgical procedure can be considered for individuals suffering from severe nephrotic symptoms which affect the patients quality of life and/or if there is a functional disturbance such as reduced blood flow to the kidney or obstruction of the ureter in the upright position. 

 

​

​

​

​

​

Individuals will usually only be offered nephropexy after careful consideration, investigations, imaging studies which support the diagnosis and a history of nephrotic symptoms usually >3 months. 

 

As there is not yet a standard criteria  regarding surgical treatment which has been defined for patients with symptomatic nephroptosis, some urologists will only perform nephropexy if nephroptosis is associated with symptoms and an obstruction or functional change to the kidney such as reduced renal blood flow when upright.

 

Although there has been several studies conducted which have demonstrated patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of nephroptosis with abdominal pain but no functional change or obstruction, these patients still benefited from the surgery and experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms. 

 

The most recent edition of Springers Clinical Urology 2020 also suggests that not all symptomatic nephroptosis cases require a functional disturbance or change before repair. 

​

​

​

​

Nephropexy surgery is usually performed by using non absorbable sutures to fixate the kidney to the fascia of the psoas major or quadratus lumborum muscle. Usually several small incisions will be made in the abdomen for the surgeon to be able to perform the operation to access the dropped kidney. The use of surgical mesh is sometimes also used in addition to encourage adhesions which can help fixate the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall. 

 

Surgical approaches and techniques will vary dependent on the urologist and will be assessed on an individual case basis. As nephropexy can be performed laparoscopically using a minimally invasive approach allows individuals to experience less post operative pain, a shorter hospital stay and less risk of surgical complications. 

​

Studies are continually emerging evaluating nephropexy for symptomatic nephroptosis and are continually demonstrating a high rate of success with either complete symptom relief or a significant improvement in individual's symptoms. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Complete resolution/ or significant reduction of pain and symptoms  

​

• Significant improvement in the quality of life 

​

• Decreased occurrence of blood in the urine (haematuria)

​

• Improvement in renal artery blood flow

​

• Resolution / reduction in urinary tract infections (UTI)

​

​

​

 * Any surgical procedure risks will always be discussed with your healthcare professional 

​

​