Reproducibility and Step-By-Step Learning Curve of Retroperitoneal Video-Assisted Mini-Laparotomy Surgery for Living...

Living donor transplant techniques must ensure donor safety and minimize complications. To achieve this goal, in 2003, we developed a new surgical procedure named video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery for living donor nephrectomy. Video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery standardizes the retroperitoneal mini-laparotomy technique as an alternative to open surgery. We have previously reported on video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery techniques for use in kidney surgery. However, there are no reports of video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery performed at other institutions. Therefore, we introduced video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery at another institution, and here, we report on our experience.

We evaluated a consecutive series of 38 donors who underwent video-assisted mini-laparotomy living donor nephrectomy at National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital from August 2016 to November 2019. All 38 patients were enrolled. Perioperative data and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. We recorded perioperative and postoperative data, including operative time, estimated blood loss, and duration of hospital stay.

The mean operative time was 144.35 ± 22.79 minutes, and the mean warm ischemia time was 184.35 ± 4.97 seconds. Mean estimated blood loss was 72.85 ± 60.81 mL. At 12 months after video-assisted mini-laparotomy surgery, the mean posttransplant serum creatinine level was 1.05 ± 0.18 mg/dL, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation) was 71.9 ± 10.34 mL/min/1.73 m2. There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication.

Previous studies reported that video- assisted mini-laparotomy surgery has a steep learning curve and is difficult to reproduce. However, video- assisted mini-laparotomy surgery is a feasible and safe technique at our institution. Video-assisted mini- laparotomy surgery is a solo surgery that can be safely performed by any surgeon with prior kidney surgery experience.