title: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: The Middle East experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the experience of the Middle East in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN), to discuss the associated advantages and salient problems, to examine the learning curve encountered compared with that of the pioneering centres in the West, and the contribution of the regional centres to the worldwide experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched Medline and PubMed for all centres performing LDN in the Middle East. Questionnaires were e-mailed to the regional transplantation centres, and programme directors, and leading urological and transplant surgeons were contacted by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LDN in the Middle East was first introduced in 2000; this approach has been pioneered and practised at seven transplant centres within five countries in the region, and was restricted to only three Arab countries, i.e. Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait. Data collection yielded a total of 888 procedures over one decade, representing only 2% of the total of ≈50,000 transplants during the same period. Despite variability of accurate reporting the overall outcomes were similar to those of open DN. The spectrum of complications was comparable to that from major centres in the USA during their learning curve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of LDN in the Middle East has been gratifying. The relative hesitancy in introducing LDN in the rest of the Arab Middle East is multifaceted. The advantages conferred to the donor underscore the need for further expansion of this approach for kidney retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Raja B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khauli
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Samer L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Traboulsi
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Medawar
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abu Dargham
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdelnoor
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut Medica, Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Maher K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hussein
keywords: (L)(O)DN, (laparoscopic) (open) donor nephrectomy; ATN, acute tubular necrosis; AUBMC, American University of Beirut Medical Center; Complications; Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy; MESOT, Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation; Middle East; Transplantation