UNILATERAL NEPHRECTOMY IN DOGS WITH RENAL-DISEASE - 30 CASES (1985-1994)

Objective-To evaluate indications for and complications, efficacy, and effect son renal function of unilateral nephrectomy in dogs with rena l disease,and to evaluate the role that scintigraphy had in the decisi on to excise a kidney. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-30 do gs with renal disease that underwent unilateral nephrectomy. A compari son group of 12 dogs with renal calculi that underwent renal scintigra phy but not nephrectomy was included. Results-Indications for nephrect omy included renal or ureteral calculi (n = 10), renal mass (8), chron ic pyelonephritis (5), perirenal mass (3), severe hydronephrosis and h ydroureter (3), and renal hypoplasia with ureteral ectopia (1). None o f the dogs were azotemic before surgery. Renal scintigraphy apparently influenced the decision to perform nephrectomy, because in 14 of 16 d ogs that underwent nephrectomy, the affected kidney contributed less t han or equal to 33% of the total glomerular filtration rate, but in 6 of 8 comparison dogs that underwent nephrotomy, the affected kidney co ntributed > 33% of total glomerular filtration rate. Complications of nephrectomy included oliguria (5) and organ laceration 12). Mean I SD final serum creatinine concentration for 16 dogs alive at least 6 mont hs after nephrectomy was 2.2 +/- 1.8 mg/dl Three dogs had chronic rena l failure of undetermined cause at the time or death, Nephrectomy did not completely resolve the underlying disease in 13 dogs. Renal functi on was evaluated in 6 dogs 2 to 3.5 years alter nephrectomy and was im paired in 4. None of the dogs were anemic; azotemic, proteinuric, or h ypertensive. Survival time varied depending on the underlying disease. Clinical Implications-Multiple factors contributed to the decision to perform nephrectomy, Unilateral nephrectomy resulted in few serious c omplications and was not detrimental to the remaining kidney, bur did not always resolve the underlying-disease.