[The way to establish laparoscopic donor nephrectomy as the method of choice in live kidney donation--a single centre experience].
BACKGROUND
In contrast to the USA, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is rarely practised in German transplant centres. Safety concerns and difficulties with the learning curve of this advanced laparoscopic procedure are the main obstacles to the establishment of this operation.


METHODS
From 1998-2005, we performed laparoscopic kidney procurement in 50 live kidney donors on an intention to treat basis harvesting a total of 29 left and 21 right kidneys for transplantation.


RESULTS
Negative adverse effects on the donor side were temporary nerve irritation (2 patients) and postoperative retroperitoneal hematoma. Reasons to convert to open nephrectomy were bleeding (2 patients) and adhesions (1 patient). On the recipient side, one kidney was lost due to renal vein thrombosis. Three patients required short-time dialysis after transplantation. All other kidney transplants worked without any problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure and has been established as the method of choice for live kidney donation in our hospital.
Saad
S
S
Klinik für Viszeral-, Gefäss- und Transplantationschirurgie, Krankenhaus Köln-Merheim, Lehrstuhl I Chirurgie der Universität Witten/Herdecke. stefan.saad@kkh-gummers-bach.de
Arns
W
W
Paul
A
A
Nagelschmidt
M
M
Heiss
M
M
Treckmann
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome