title: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: decreasing length of stay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of robotic operations performed with the da Vinci Surgical System has increased during the past decade. This system allows for greater maneuverability and control than hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures, resulting in less tissue manipulation and irritation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the results of 100 consecutive robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies and compared them to our most recent 20 hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between May 2008 and June 2012, 120 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were performed at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. Of those, 100 live kidney donors underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies. Surgical time and hospital length of stay improved after the first 20 patients receiving robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomies, which was considered the learning curve. Sixty percent of patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were released on postoperative day 1 compared to 45% of patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy resulted in decreased postoperative length of stay that decreased the global cost of the procedure and allowed our institution to admit more patients.
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Ari J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Darin S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bohorquez
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Carmody
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reichman
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Loss
keywords: Kidney transplantation; laparoscopy; living donors; nephrectomy; robotics; tissue and organ procurement
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