Complication after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a case report and review.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic procedures are gaining acceptance in the treatment of benign and some malignant urologic disorders. Recently, laparoscopic techniques have been applied to transplant surgery and touted as a safe alternative to traditional open techniques.


METHODS
We present a patient who developed a complication from laparoscopic donor nephrectomy that required open corrective surgery.


RESULTS
A 25-year-old man underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy at a large medical center familiar with the operation. There were no operative or early postoperative complications. Within 6 weeks of the operation, the patient developed signs and symptoms of partial small bowel obstruction. Further evaluation revealed an internal hernia in the retroperitoneum at the site of the nephrectomy. This required a second operation to reduce the hernia and close the defect.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy remains an evolving technique that has not stood the test of time. Larger series will eventually reveal whether this is the procedure of choice as compared to traditional open donor nephrectomy.
Knoepp
L
L
Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA. LFKnoepp@prodigy.net
Smith
M
M
Huey
J
J
Mancino
A
A
Barber
H
H
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*