Polycystic Kidney Disease and Bilateral Nephrectomy

Bilateral native nephrectomy is sometimes indicated in patients with end-stage renal disease in association with kidney transplantation. The most common indication for this procedure is the presence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, which is characterized by a progressive replacement of the renal parenchyma with cysts. Those enlarged kidneys may become symptomatic causing abdominal distension or pain, nausea, back pain, gastro-esophageal reflux syndrome, hypertension, but also serious complications such as hematuria, intracystic hemorrhage, cyst rupture, or even severe infections. Once symptomatic those kidneys are generally removed surgically. At UI Health the removal of the polycystic kidneys and the subsequent kidney transplantation are performed simultaneously with a robotic approach, which allows reduction in surgical trauma, duration of hospitalization, morbidity, and faster recovery.