Laparoscopic Live Donor Nephrectomy

TLDR

A 40‑year‑old donor underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy via a 9‑cm infraumbilical midline incision with warm ischemia <5 min, preserving the kidney intact. The allograft immediately produced urine, the recipient’s serum creatinine fell to 0.7 mg/dl by day 2, and both donor and recipient experienced minimal discomfort with rapid recovery, demonstrating the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Abstract

A laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy was performed on a 40-year-old man. The kidney was removed intact via a 9-cm infraumbilical midline incision. Warm ischemia was limited to less than 5 min. Immediately upon revascularization, the allograft produced urine. By the second postoperative day, the recipient's serum creatinine had decreased to 0.7 mg/dl. The donor's postoperative course was uneventful. He experienced minimal discomfort and was discharged home on the first postoperative day. We conclude that laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is feasible. It can be performed without apparent deleterious effects to either the donor or the recipient. The limited discomfort and rapid convalescence enjoyed by our patient indicate that this technique may prove to be advantageous.