Rhabdomyolysis after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy

Rhabdomyolysis is a postoperative complication that may result in acute renal failure owing to excessive myoglobinuria. After uncomplicated laparoscopic left transperitoneal donor nephrectomy, a 32-year-old man developed anuric acute renal failure secondary to postoperative rhabdomyolysis that required intermittent hemodialysis for 2 weeks. The presumed risk factors in this case were the patient's high body mass index, intraoperative flank position with flexion, a solitary kidney, and the duration of surgery. Our current surgical technique has been modified to drop the kidney bridge early, immediately after visualization of the hilum.