Initial experience with laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy.
BACKGROUND
Advances in laparoscopic instruments and video technology have made laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) feasible. We report our initial experience with this technique.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 30 open donor nephrectomies and our first 30 LDNs was performed to assess donor and recipient outcome and resource usage.


RESULTS
LDN was successfully completed in 26 donors (87%). The increased operative time and costs were balanced by less postoperative pain, earlier discharge, earlier return to normal activity and work, fewer incision problems, and less personal financial loss. Recipient outcome was not affected.


CONCLUSIONS
LDN is technically feasible and safe, and recipient graft outcomes are equivalent. Convalescence is shortened, and there is less personal financial loss. LDN offers significant benefit to the donor and may result in increased organ donation.
Odland
M D
MD
Department of Surgery, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn 55415, USA.
Ney
A L
AL
Jacobs
D M
DM
Larkin
J A
JA
Steffens
E K
EK
Kraatz
J J
JJ
Rodriguez
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000191:economics; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009294:Narcotics; D003404:Creatinine