A nephrectomy is where part or all of the kidney is removed. In a partial nephrectomy, just tumours and a margin of kidney tissue surrounding the tumour is removed. This leaves much of the healthy kidney. This is the preferred treatment in BHD. Your surgeon will decide whether this is an option in your case.
Sometimes, you may need to have your whole kidney removed. This depends on the size, number, and location of your tumours. Removing the whole kidney is called a radical nephrectomy. If your surgeon plans to remove the whole kidney, it is important you tell him that you have BHD as you may get tumours in the other kidney at a later date.
Kidney surgery can be performed as an open surgery, or by keyhole surgery. This is also known as laparoscopy. In keyhole surgery, the surgeon will make a few small incisions in your stomach. They will then use specialist instruments and a small camera to operate through the incisions. Recovery times are often much shorter following keyhole surgery. There is usually less pain, bleeding, and scarring. Some surgeons use robotic equipment to improve the surgery.
