Hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy

The optimal minimally invasive procedure to procure live donor kidneys for renal transplantation has not been established. This study compared the donor outcome of hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (H-LLDN) with total laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (T-LLDN).

The outcomes of 12 donors undergoing H-LLDN were compared to that of a subsequent series of 12 donors undergoing T-LLDN. Body mass index, operation time, warm ischemia time, hospital stay, surgical complications, and short-term graft function were compared between the 2 groups.

LLDN was successfully performed in all 24 donors. Both approaches resulted in excellent early graft function. The mean operation time in T-LLDN (215 minutes) was slightly shorter than that in H-LLDN (258 minutes), suggesting that the skills developed as surgeons learned the H-LLDN procedure had transferred to their performance of T-LLDN. The mean warm ischemia time of the T-LLDN group (4.5 minutes) was longer than that of the H-LLDN group (3.8 minutes), although this difference was not significant. One minor tear of the lumbar vein occurred in the H-LLDN group and the resultant bleeding necessitated blood transfusion. One mechanical failure occurred when the renal vein was divided by endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis in the T-LLDN group. The length of hospital stay, resumption of diet, and the use of narcotic analgesics were not different between the 2 groups.

Both H-LLDN and T-LLDN are safe and effective approaches for the procurement of live donor kidneys. The benefits of the H-LLDN technique include direct manual control of the operative field and increased safety margin. The development of a hospital LLDN program by starting with a hand-assisted approach may reduce the potential bleeding complications and facilitate the safe transition to the cosmetically preferable total laparoscopic approach.