Publication:

Outcomes of open radical nephrectomies in a tertiary care hospital in Nigeria: a five-year review

Background Open radical nephrectomy is a method of treatment of large malignant renal tumour. We aimed to review the open radical nephrectomies done in our centre with view of assessing the outcome.

Methods Patients with suspected malignant renal tumour who had open radical nephrectomies at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital within the study period of May 2019 to April 2024 were identified and information retrieved from the records. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for analysis using appropriate test statistics.

Results A total number of 23 patients had open radical nephrectomies (9 right and 14 left nephrectomies) based on clinico-radiological features of malignant renal tumours. The age range was between 9 months and 77 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.5. The mean operating time was 2 hours 10 minutes and the average length of hospital stay was 5 days. The high-grade complication rate was 8.7%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.3% and the transfusion rate was 47.8%. The histology report showed 11 (47.8%) had nephroblastoma, 8 (34.8%) had renal cell carcinoma, 3 (13.0%) had oncocytoma and 1 (4.4%) had cystic nephroma.

Conclusion Although the transfusion rate is high, open radical nephrectomy remains an option for large renal tumour as it is beneficial and gives a favourable outcome.