Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy vs Standard Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy: A Prospective Randomized Comparative Study

The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (RDN) with standard laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN).

Forty-five voluntary kidney donors (27 for right subgroup and 18 for left subgroup) who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into 2 groups, RDN and LDN in 1:2 ratio. Primary endpoints were visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, analgesic requirement, and hospital stay of donors. Secondary endpoints were donor's intraoperative and postoperative parameters, graft outcomes, and donor surgeon's difficulty scores.

All procedures were completed without any intraoperative complications. VAS pain scores at 6, 24, and 48 hours (p = 0.00), analgesic requirement (p = 0.00), and hospital stay (p = 0.00) were less in RDN than in LDN. Longer graft arterial length could be preserved with robotic approach on right side (p = 0.03) but not on left side (p = 0.77). The RDN group required more number of ports (p = 0.00), longer retrieval time (p = 0.00), and warm ischemia time (WIT) (p = 0.01). Total operative time (p = 0.14), hemoglobin drop (p = 0.97), postoperative donor complications (p = 0.97), and the recipient estimated glomerular filtration rate at 9 months (p = 0.64) were similar in both groups. Difficulty scores of console surgeon were less in most steps on right side but not on left side. Patient-side surgeon in RDN had higher difficulty scores for retrieval.

RDN is safe and is associated with better morbidity profile than LDN. Robotic approach provides technical ease and facilitates preservation of longer length of renal artery on right side. Left RDN is associated with longer WIT; however, this does not translate into poor graft outcome.