Outcomes after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: comparison of two laparoscopic surgeons with different levels of expertise.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effect of surgeon experience on donor and recipient outcomes after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN). Results of a LLDN expert were compared with those of an LLDN novice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between October 2008 and October 2010 the last 20 cases of a series of 130 consecutive LLDNs, performed by an expert (EXP) were compared with the first 20 cases of an LLDN novice (NOV). Donor and recipient outcomes were evaluated. The novice was mentored by the expert during his initial four LLDN cases.

RESULTS

Donor and recipient demographics were not different between the two surgeon groups. Total operating time and warm ischaemia time during LLDN was significantly longer in the NOV group compared with the EXP group (273 min vs 147 min and 213 s vs 162 s, respectively). The incidence of donor complications was low in both groups. Length of hospital stay among donors did not differ between groups. Although delayed graft function, rejection rates and postoperative serum creatinine levels indicated slightly poorer recipient outcomes in the NOV group, differences did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Mentoring by an experienced urological laparoscopist may help an LLDN novice to generate acceptable donor and recipient outcomes. Whether or not prolonged operating times and warm ischaemia times during the early phase of an LLDN experience are risk factors for impaired graft function needs further evaluation.