Purpose: We evaluated both efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted live donor nephrectomy.
Materials and methods: Since September 2000, 11 living kidney donors (2 males and 9 females) underwent laparoscopy-assisted live donor nephrectomy. All of sides were left. Gasless surgery was performed with a 7 cm pararectal upper abdominal incision and three trocars via a retroperitoneal approach. After creating the working space using balloon dissection technique, the abdominal wall was lifted using a metal retractor attached to the margin of the abdominal incision. Additionally, a metal plate, which was attached to the abdominal wall inside, was raised. The surgeon dissected left kidney from the skin incision under both direct vision and magnificated view on the monitor.
Results: The operating time, estimated blood loss and warm ischemic time were a mean of 209 minutes, 219 g, and 4.2 minutes, respectively. The mean times for the return to a normal diet and unassisted ambulation were 1.3 and 1.8 days, respectively. One case required blood transfusion due to subcutaneous hematoma at trocar entry site on the second day after surgery, in the remaining 10 cases there were no complications. All of donated kidneys achieved immediate function after engraftment.
Conclusions: Gasless laparoscopy-assisted donor nephrectomy is recommended and advantageous for healthy kidney donors as a minimally invasive method.