Renal Cyst Excision

Scientific Editor: Editorial Board ISUD website

What is Renal Cyst Excision?

Renal Cyst Excision is the surgical procedure to remove one or more renal cysts.

When is the procedure performed?

For the majority of simple renal cysts, there is no need for any intervention to be done. Renal Cyst Excision is indicated:

  • when the cyst is large in size and exerts pressure
  • when there are symptoms such as pain caused by potential bleeding
  • after unsuccessful cyst aspiration and infusion of a sclerosing agent

What sort of preparation is required?

Upon hospital admission, standardized preoperative preparation includes blood tests, chest X-ray and ECG (electrocardiogram).

In case you are on anticoagulant therapy, it may be required to interrupt your anticoagulant therapy a few days before the operation. You should always consult your Cardiologist, for there may be need to replace anticoagulants with injections in the abdominal region.

How is the procedure performed?

Renal Cyst Excision  can be open surgery (with skin incision), laparoscopic or robotic,  and is performed under general anesthesia. After surgery there is need for placing a urinary catheter.  In the laparoscopic method, small skin incisions are made to allow for a small high-resolution camera to be inserted and transfer the image to the screen, as well as for multiple surgical instruments to pass through and be used by the surgeon and surgery group. As for robotic-assisted surgery, this is based on laparoscopic surgery, with the only difference that all surgical instruments are connected to an apparatus giving the potential to the surgeon to operate while sitting in front of a screen using all instruments remote from the patient. A temporary drainage tube is inserted to the operated sites, which is usually removed on the first postoperative day. The length of hospital stay depends on the surgical method applied. In case of open surgery, hospital stay is usually 7 days, while in endoscopic procedures it is 2-3 days.

What about after the procedure?

Upon discharge from hospital, you will be given specific instructions about:

  • when it is safe to restart your anticoagulant therapy
  • when you can resume to intense physical activity
  • what sort of antibiotic regimen and analgesics you should receive postoperatively

What is the effect of the procedure on patient’s quality of life?

In most cases, the patient’s quality of life is not affected. It takes at least 14 days for the surgical wound to heal. In case you have undergone open surgery, it will take at least 6 weeks until your full recovery, whereas after endoscopic surgery you will be able to resume to your usual life within 10-15 days.