Nephrectomy for Non-Functioning Kidney at the Ouakam Military Hospital: A Five-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: The destruction of renal parenchyma is a complex process resulting from acute or chronic affections. Simple nephrectomy is indicated in the management of irreversible destruction of renal parenchyma due to benign affections. The aim of this study is to describe the diagnostic, etiological, and therapeutic aspects of non-functional kidney treated in the urology department of the Ouakam Military Hospital. Patients and Method : This was a retrospective, descriptive, single-center study of cases of nephrectomy for non-functioning kidney in the Urology-Andrology Department of the Ouakam Military Hospital between January 1 st , 2019 and December 31 st , 2023. Results: Forty-seven nephrectomies were indicated for non-functioning kidney (83.9% of all nephrectomies). The average age of the patients was 38.8 years and the sex ratio was 1.23. The functional signs were dominated by lumbar pain and hematuria, and computed tomography urography enabled the diagnosis of non-functioning kidney in all patients. The destruction of the renal parenchyma was caused by upper urinary tract stones (53.2%), pyeloureteral junction syndrome (25.5%), iatrogenic ureteral stenosis (14.8%), tuberculous pyonephrosis (4.25%), and calcified double J stents (2.13%). All patients underwent open surgery. Conclusion: Nephrectomy for non-functioning kidney remains a common practice in our setting. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, preventable causes of non-functioning kidney are still the primary indications for nephrectomy.