Is laparoscopic donor nephrectomy here to stay?
BACKGROUND
Open live donor nephrectomy is safe and provides kidneys of excellent quality. The complexity of the laparoscopic donor technique has raised considerable concerns.


METHODS
Twenty-six laparoscopic live donor nephrectomies were done from October 1997 to October 1998.


RESULTS
All kidneys had immediate function. All recipients except 1 had serum creatinines less than 2.0 mg at 2 months posttransplantation. Three complications (wound infection, neuroma, reoperation) occurred. There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Proper surgical training and patient selection can result in a safe donor operation that provides kidneys of excellent quality.
Sasaki
T
T
Transplantation Services, Washington Hospital Center, DC 20010, USA.
Finelli
F
F
Barhyte
D
D
Trollinger
J
J
Light
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*