[The first 100 hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the results of the first 100 hand-assisted donor nephrectomies in our hospital.

DESIGN

Prospective, descriptive.

METHOD

In the period January 2000-July 2004, 100 consecutive donors underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy as part of a living-related kidney transplantation at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The operation was performed laparoscopically using a hand port (hand-assisted nephrectomy). The incision made for the hand port was also used for the removal of the kidney.

RESULTS

Mean operating time was 168 min (range: 88-285). Median warm ischaemia time was 3 min (1.0-4.5) and median blood loss was 50 ml (20-1500). None of the operations required conversion to an open procedure and there were no deaths among donors or recipients. Postoperatively, 12 complications occurred in 10 donors. Median hospital stay for the donors was 5 days. In 3 recipients, the transplanted kidney had to be removed within 14 days. 1n 3 other recipients, surgical re-intervention was necessary due to urological complications. One-year graft survival was 94%.

CONCLUSION

Hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was a safe and minimally invasive procedure for renal transplantation in this patient series.