Laparoscopic retroperitoneal live donor right nephrectomy for purposes of allotransplantation and autotransplantation

PURPOSE: We report the technique of and initial experience with retroperitoneal laparoscopic live donor right nephrectomy for purposes of renal allotransplantation and autotransplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 5 patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic live donor nephrectomy of the right kidney for autotransplantation in 4 and living related renal donation in 1. Indications for autotransplantation included a large proximal ureteral tumor, a long distal ureteral stricture and 2 cases of the loin pain hematuria syndrome. In all cases a 3-port retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach and a pelvic muscle splitting Gibson incision for kidney extraction were used. In patients undergoing autotransplantation the same incision was used for subsequent transplantation. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully accomplished without technical or surgical complications. Total mean operating time was 5.8 hours and average laparoscopic donor nephrectomy time was 3.1 hours. Mean renal warm ischemia time, including endoscopic cross clamping of the renal artery to ex vivo cold perfusion, was 4 minutes. Average blood loss for the entire procedure was 400 cc. Radionuclide scan on postoperative day 1 confirmed good blood flow and function in all transplanted kidneys. Mean analgesic requirement was 58 mg. fentanyl. Mean hospital stay was 4 days (range 2 to 8), and convalescence was completed in 3 to 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In the occasional patient requiring renal autotransplantation live donor nephrectomy can be performed laparoscopically with renal extraction and subsequent transplantation through a single standard extraperitoneal Gibson incision, thus, minimizing the overall operative morbidity. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that live donor nephrectomy of the right kidney can be performed safely using a retroperitoneal approach with an adequate length of the right renal vein obtained for allotransplantation or autotransplantation.