Published online Oct 10, 2015. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v6.i5.89
Peer-review started: February 5, 2015
First decision: April 27, 2015
Revised: July 3, 2015
Accepted: July 29, 2015
Article in press: August 3, 2015
Published online: October 10, 2015
Processing time: 255 Days and 21.1 Hours
Renal tumor surgery places patients at increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Accurate quantification of kidney function changes before and after surgery is essential to determine the magnitude of decline attributable to an index procedure. Current literature, however, highlights heterogeneity and inconsistencies in measurement techniques thereby contributing to ambiguity amongst studies. Further efforts are necessary to standardize reporting of kidney function outcomes related to renal surgery.
Core tip: Accurate assessment of renal function changes following kidney tumor surgery is essential for quantifying the degree of decline attributable to an index procedure. Current studies, however, demonstrate significant heterogeneity in the timing and calculated formulas used for determining kidney function changes. These variations in methodology significantly confound interpretations regarding the impact of surgical technique on global renal function. Standardization of the reporting process is essential to more accurately characterize and potentially modify aspects of surgical care that can benefit from improvement.