Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation
Published on: July 19, 2021
Robotically assisted donor nephrectomy for kidney transplantation
Santiago Horgan1, Enrico Benedetti, Federico Moser
1Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, University of Illinois, 840 South Wood Street, Room 435 E, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. shorgan@uic.edu
Abstract:
The application of minimally invasive techniques in the field of transplant surgery is expanding the number of living-related donor nephrectomies. In 2003, the number of living kidney donors exceeded the number of cadaveric donors. The laparoscopic techniques already have been described extensively. Our experience with robotic donor nephrectomy began in October 2000. In this article, we describe the surgical technique for living-related donor nephrectomies using robotic technology (computer-enhanced surgery), as well as the most important considerations regarding the pre- and postoperative management of this group of patients.
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Kidney Structure
External Anatomy of the Kidney
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...

