Anterior-retroperitoneal living donor nephrectomy: technique and outcomes

Of 133 consecutive renal transplants, 61 (46%) were living donor grafts recovered in an anterior-retroperitoneal approach. Donor demographics, operative-anesthetic care, length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, and complications were reviewed with donor and recipient follow-up of 4 to 40 months. Donors included 35 women and 26 men, ages 22 to 61 years (mean, 42.2); thirty-nine were living related and 22 were living unrelated donors. Pretransplant evaluation defined renal anatomy and function (minimal creatinine clearance, 75 cc/minute). Hospital admission occurred the morning of donation. Nephrectomy by the anterior-retroperitoneal approach (no rib resection) was followed by postoperative epidural pain control, early resumption of diet, progressive ambulation, and aggressive pulmonary care. Operating room time door-to-door averaged 2 hours, 43 minutes (range, 1 hour, 45 minutes-3 hours, 55 minutes). Donors were hospitalized for 2 (n = 7), 3 (n = 24), 4 (n = 19), and 5 to 8 (n = 11) days (mean LOS, 3.75; range, 2-8 days). The mean charge for donor hospitalization was $15,329 (range, $10,808-$29,579). One donor required transfusion; another was readmitted for wound drainage and pneumonia treated medically. All donors remain well with normal renal function. One early graft loss (3 days) occurred from arterial intimal dissection; all others gained life-sustaining function. Recipient (98%) and graft (92%) survival was excellent at 4 to 40 months. Anterior-retroperitoneal living donor nephrectomy is safe and effective, permitting hospital LOS of usually <4 days, early recovery, and no lasting complications. Excellent donor and recipient results from this procedure should compel critical assessment of techniques requiring more extensive operative exposure or more costly operating room and hospital approaches to donor surgical management.