Nephropexy: fact or fiction?

At the Mayo Clinic, from 1940 through 1974, 21 patients have undergone nephropexy for nephroptosis. Fourteen of the 16 patients with long-term follow-up were cured; 2 of the 16 patients were partially relieved. An additional 2 patients who had one-year follow-up examinations were asymptomatic. Three patients were lost to follow-up. In this series results with the various methods of fixation did not differ, and results in patients who retained their normal position postoperatively as compared with those whose kidneys reverted to their preoperative level also did not differ. Patients who had psychologic disorders fared as well as those who did not. Greater use of renography probably could be made in the assessment of symptoms. Although this review does not suggest that nephropexy for primary nephroptosis be restored to its former appeal of the 1930s, we suggest that its use be considered again in urologic surgery.