Unilateral nephrectomy in elderly patients: A retrospective study

Evidence suggests that hypertension is a major morbid complication of unilateral nephrectomy, although this is still a controversial finding. To address this issue as well as that of renal function in elderly patients who have had this surgery, a study of 44 patients was undertaken. Ten patients were 70 years of age or older, and 34 patients were younger than 70 years. Prevalence of hypertension in those 50 to 69 years of age at surgery was 57 percent. Forty percent of patients older than 70 years of age at nephrectomy developed hypertension. Renal failure developed in five men. These results suggest that elderly patients who have undergone unilateral nephrectomy are at higher risk of developing hypertension and that renal failure, at least in men, may be a major complication.