COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DONOR NEPHRECTOMY PERFORMED BY OPEN AND VARIOUS MODIFICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPIC ACCESS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience on laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LDN). During the last 1,5 years we have gradually expanded the use of minimally invasive LDN with various techniques: strictly laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic. This comparative study is based on 250 conventional open LDN and 61 laparoscopic LDN. Minimally invasive hand-assisted technique was shown to be associated with a significantly lower risk of major complications and intraoperative incidents, as well as reduced warm ische- mia and operative time. There was no negative impact on recipient’s results. In our opinion, the introduction of hand-assisted technique is probably the most significant single factor for improved results, although accumulated experience and developments in equipment will contribute. Improvements in surgical outcomes following donor nephrectomy may enhance living donor programmes.

Keywords

• living donor nephrectomy (ldn)
• laparoscopy
• hand-assistance