Abstract

Background: Nephrectomy is the standard procedure for treatment of malignancy of the kidneys or for abnormal kidneys that provides little or no contribution to the overall renal function. The indications for nephrectomy differ between the pediatric and the adult populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for nephrectomy in children in King Fahd Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This is a retrospective hospital-based study which included 36 nephrectomy cases in children. The inpatient and outpatient departments in the hospital were reviewed for a period of 9 years. All patients below 16 years of age, who underwent nephrectomy in KFMC between 2008 January and 2016 August were included in the study.
Results: Most (66.7%) of cases of nephrectomy in children were males. Children who were less than 5 years old were the most affected (52.8%). Most (83.3%) of nephrectomy cases were elective while 16.7% were emergency. Regards the indication of surgery, 91.7% had nonfunctioning kidney and 8.3% had a renal mass. Regarding the cause of nonfunctioning kidney, it was vesicoureteral reflux in 36.1%, ureteropelvic junction obstruction in 30.6%, Multicystic Dysplastic kidney in 5.6%.
Conclusion: Most of the cases who underwent nephrectomy in children were males. Children who were less than 5 years old were the most affected. Most the nephrectomy cases were elective and only 16.7% were emergency need ones. The nonfunctioning kidney was the commonest indication and few cases showed renal mass.

Key words: Nephrectomy; pediatric urology; indications; non-functioning kidney.