Dr. Jeffrey Mullins, CHI Memorial Chattanooga Urology AssociatesQ: I was recently diagnosed with a kidney tumor and need surgery. What are the chances I will need dialysis?
A: If you have a tumor that requires surgery, chances are you will never need dialysis. The only randomized trial that compared total kidney removal versus removal of only the tumor showed the risk of dialysis for both groups was less than 2 percent. Importantly, all these patients had normal kidney function before surgery. Patients with risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, pre-existing kidney disease and protein in the urine are at higher risk for needing dialysis. In my practice, I am much more likely to perform a partial nephrectomy in patients with risk factors even if they have a complex tumor. Fortunately, the majority of complex partial nephrectomies can still be managed in a minimally invasive fashion using robotic surgery.
– Dr. Jeffrey Mullins, CHI Memorial Chattanooga Urology Associates
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