title: Incidence of ureteral strictures after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous reports of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy have suggested that preservation of the gonadal vein with the specimen is important for preventing ureteral strictures. To test this hypothesis we examined our series of patients for the incidence of ureteral strictures when the gonadal vein was not preserved with the specimen during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the records of 300 consecutive patients at our institution who underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy between 2000 and 2005. Mean donor age was 36.7 years (range 18 to 68) in the 167 female and 133 male donors. Mean recipient age was 38.4 years. Average followup was 2 years. During ureteral dissection the gonadal vein was transected just distal to the renal vein and left in situ. The ureter was dissected and transected at the level of the common iliac vessels. Indwelling ureteral stents were used for all recipient ureteral reimplantations and left in place for 1 month. In the postoperative period transplant recipients were followed biweekly for serum creatinine function during month 1 and monthly thereafter. All patients with increased creatinine (greater than 1.3 mg/dl) or an increasing trend were evaluated with transplant renal ultrasound. Clinically significant ureteral stricture was defined as persistent hydronephrosis resulting in impaired renal function and the need for percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement or ureteroscopic management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After laparoscopic living donor transplantation without gonadal vein preservation we found no incidence of clinically significant ureteral stricture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gonadal vein preservation with the specimen during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is not necessary. Preservation of the periureteral blood supply is sufficient to prevent ureteral strictures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: H Albin
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gritsch
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Schulam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*