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Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: the initial 3 cases
P G Schulam1, L R Kavoussi, A D Cheriff
1Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Purpose:
Successful laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy in 3 patients is described.
Materials And Methods:
The procedures were performed completely laparoscopically and the kidneys were extracted via 8 cm. infraumbilical incisions.
Results:
In all 3 cases warm ischemic time was less than 5 minutes, and the renal vessels and ureter of the harvested kidneys were of adequate length for routine transplantation. Donors required minimal postoperative parenteral analgesia and were discharged home 1 to 3 days after the procedure. All harvested kidneys were successfully transplanted, and functioned well initially and at hospital discharge.
Conclusions:
Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy may be an alternative surgical modality to conventional open nephrectomy. Advantages include less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and convalescence, and a more desirable cosmetic result. Additionally, these advantages may encourage more individuals to consider live donation, resulting in an increase in organ supply.