Initial experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a single-centre experience over 5 years.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Surgical Innovation
• Transplant Surgery

Background:

• Live donor nephrectomy is crucial for kidney transplantation.
• Minimally invasive techniques aim to improve donor outcomes.
• The retroperitoneal approach offers potential advantages in donor nephrectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of hand-assisted live donor nephrectomy using a retroperitoneal approach.
• To assess complication rates and functional transplant success.
• To identify risk factors associated with complications in live kidney donors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of donor nephrectomies performed between 2008 and 2012.
• Inclusion of 108 live kidney donors.
• Examination of medical records for intraoperative data, complications, and follow-up outcomes.

Main Results:

• The procedure demonstrated a low complication rate (28% early, 7% late).
• Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and lifestyle factors (smoking, excessive alcohol) were significantly associated with higher complication rates.
• Recipient transplant success rate was high at 96% after one year.

Conclusions:

• Hand-assisted retroperitoneal donor nephrectomy is a safe and effective procedure.
• Pre-operative counseling regarding smoking cessation and alcohol moderation is advised for potential donors.
• Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices are significant risk factors for complications in live kidney donors.