Trends and predictors of changes in renal function after radical nephrectomy for renal tumours

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common postoperative complication in patients who undergo radical nephrectomy for renal tumours. However, the factors influencing long-term renal function require further investigation.

This study was designed to investigate the trends in renal function changes and risk factors for renal function deterioration in renal tumour patients after radical nephrectomy.

We monitored changes in renal function before and after surgery for 3 years. The progression of renal function was determined by the progression and degradation of CKD stages. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the causes of renal function progression.

We analysed the data of 329 patients with renal tumours who underwent radical nephrectomies between January 2013 and December 2018. In this study, 43.7% of patients had postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), and 48.3% had CKD at advanced stages. Further research revealed that patients’ renal function stabilized 3 months after surgery. Additionally, renal function changes during these 3 months have a substantial impact on the progression of long-term renal function changes in patients.

AKI may be an indicator of short-term postoperative changes in renal function. Renal function tests should be performed in patients with AKI after radical nephrectomy to monitor the progression of functional impairment, particularly within the first 3 months after radical nephrectomy.