An anterior extraperitoneal incision for donor nephrectomy that spares the rectus abdominis muscle and anterior abdominal wall nerves.
OBJECTIVE
To perform open donor nephrectomy with the least amount of body alteration and complication, a short extraperitoneal incision was developed that preserves the ipsilateral rectus abdominis muscle and abdominal branches of the intercostal nerves.


METHODS
Donor nephrectomy using the new incision was performed in 11 consecutive patients.


RESULTS
Morphine was required for pain relief for 1 to 3 days (mean 1.8), patients tolerated diet at 1 to 4 days (mean 2.2) and postoperative stay was 2 to 5 days (mean 3.5). Complications were minimal, consisting of postoperative fever 1 day in duration. A viable kidney was provided for transplantation in each case.


CONCLUSIONS
The extraperitoneal, rectus abdominis muscle and nerve sparing incision resulted in a short course of pain medication, early diet toleration and a short hospital stay.
Redman
J F
JF
Department of Urology, University of Arkansas College of Medicine and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy