Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Single Port Donor Nephrectomy
Published on: March 12, 2011
Randomized controlled trial comparing hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic versus standard laparoscopic donor
Leonienke F C Dols1, Niels F M Kok, Frank C H d'Ancona
11 Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 2 Department of Urology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 4 Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. 5 Address correspondence to: Jan N.M. IJzermans, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy (HARP) offers similar donor quality of life to laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) but with shorter operation times. HARP is a safe and effective alternative for left-sided donor nephrectomies.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Surgical Innovation
- Transplantation
Background:
- Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is standard for live donors, offering quick recovery.
- Intraoperative safety concerns persist with LDN.
- Hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy (HARP) combines hand-guided safety with endoscopic benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the safety and quality of life outcomes of HARP versus LDN.
- To determine the optimal surgical approach for live-donor nephrectomy.
Main Methods:
- Randomized trial of 190 donors undergoing left-sided nephrectomy at two centers.
- Primary endpoint: physical function (Short Form-36) at 1 month.
- Secondary endpoints: intraoperative events, operation times, length of stay, complications.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in physical function at 1 month between HARP and LDN.
- HARP demonstrated significantly shorter skin-to-skin and warm ischemia times.
- Similar rates of postoperative complications and graft-related issues were observed.
Conclusions:
- Left-sided HARP provides comparable quality of life to LDN.
- HARP offers advantages in reduced operating and warm ischemia times.
- HARP is a recommended alternative for left-sided donor nephrectomy.
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