John Åkerlund: Complications and kidney failure following kidney cancer surgery
It’s not uncommon to develop kidney failure and have complications after kidney cancer surgery. John Åkerlund explores the risk factors, and his doctoral thesis reveals that open surgery results in twice as many complications as minimally invasive surgery. Additionally, undergoing surgery at a larger hospital also increases the risk.
JOHN ÅKERLUND
Dissertation defense: 24 May 2024 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis: Aspects of Renal Cell Carcinoma - Associations with end-stage renal disease and surgical complications
Research area: Urology
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
Kidney cancer ranks as the fourteenth most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately three percent of all cancer cases. Surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage disease, involving the removal of only the tumor or the whole kidney.
“It’s not uncommon to develop kidney failure and have complications as a consequence of treatment. The question is how we can minimize kidney failure and complications and provide the best care for these patients,” says John Åkerlund, a urology specialist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
He specializes in surgically treating kidney cancer and other kidney conditions, and is currently pursuing his doctorate at the Institute of Clinical Sciences.
Importance of kidney-sparing surgery
What is your research about in brief?
“We explore the risk of complications associated with kidney cancer surgery, as well as the relationship between complication rates and the number of surgeries performed at a hospital. Finally, we study the most severe form of kidney failure and its role as a risk factor for the development of kidney cancer as well as its clinical significance after kidney cancer surgery,” says John Åkerlund.
What are the key research findings and what practical use can they provide?
“Our results show a doubling of the number of complications with open surgery compared to laparoscopic surgery. The most significant risk factors for serious complications were kidney failure, comorbidity, large tumors, open technique, and surgery at larger hospitals. Severe kidney failure after kidney cancer surgery was associated with significantly poorer survival. In the future, various forms of kidney-sparing surgery will gain importance, and ongoing research in this field will continue to be crucial.”
“A more in-depth understanding”
What has been enjoyable and rewarding about your doctoral project?
“It has been very inspiring and enjoyable to have the opportunity to research and develop within the same area where I work clinically. Additionally, being able to do it together with experienced researchers and individuals in my clinical environment has been extremely rewarding. Becoming a research physician has provided me with a more in-depth, three-dimensional understanding that I can build upon in the future.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg