The aim of this study is to evaluate the early complications seen after donor nephrectomy in living donor renal transplantation. Between November 1989 and June 1998, 270 living donor nephrectomies were performed at the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Sixty donor records which were incomplete were discarded from this study. A questionnaire with relevant queries was prepared and sent to all the donors. The information sought included age, gender, marital status, drug addiction and smoking, blood pressure, blood group, serological tests, blood tests for hematology and biochemistry, coagulation profile, urine reports, nephrectomy site, duration of anesthesia, intra-operative and early post-nephrectomy complications, hypertension, respiratory and genitourinary complications, water and electrolyte imbalance, hemorrhage, and wound infection. Statistical analysis was done using Fox Pro and SPSS software. It was noted that females donated more kidneys to there relatives (p < 0.05) and had a higher prevalance of anemia (p < 0.01). More males were addicted to smoking and/or opium than females (p < 0.01), and fewer addicts donated their kidneys (p < 0.05). The site of nephrectomy was similar between men and women. Complications were significantly greater in addicted donors (p < 0.05). Hemorrhage occurred more commonly in association with right nephrectomy (p < 0.05), while wound infection occurred more commonly in men (p < 0.05). There were no deaths. Our results suggest that living donor nephrectomy is safe and is assosiated with minor complications causing little morbidity and no mortality.