A comparison of recipient renal outcomes with laparoscopic versus open live donor nephrectomy

Transplantation. 1999 Mar 15;67(5):722-8. doi: 10.1097/00007890-199903150-00014.

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (laparoNx) has the potential to increase living kidney donation rates by reducing the pain and suffering of the donor. However, renal function outcomes of a large series of recipients of laparoNx have not been studied.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 132 recipients of laparoNx done at our center between 3/96 and 11/97 and compared them to 99 recipients of kidneys procured by the open technique (openNx) done between 10/93 and 3/96.

Results: Significantly more patients in the laparoNx group (25.2%) were taking tacrolimus within the first month than those in the openNx group (2.1%). Mean serum creatinine was higher in laparoNx compared with openNx at 1 week (2.8+/-0.3 and 1.8+/-0.2 mg/dl, respectively; P=0.005) and at 1 month (2.0+/-0.1 and 1.6+/-0.1 mg/dl, P=0.05) after transplant. However, by 3 and 6 months, the mean serum creatinine was similar in the two groups (1.7+/-0.1 versus 1.5+/-0.05 mg/dl, and 1.7+/-0.1 versus 1.7+/-0.1, respectively). By 1 year posttransplant, the mean serum creatinine for laparoNx was actually less than that for openNx (1.4+/-0.1 and 1.7+/-0.1 mg/dl, P=0.03). Although patients in the laparoNx compared to the openNx group were more likely to have delayed graft function (7.6 versus 2.0%) and ureteral complications (4.5 versus 1.0%), the rate of other complications, as well as hospital length of stay, patient and graft survival rates were similar in the two groups.

Conclusion: Although laparoNx allografts have slower initial function compared with openNx, there was no significant difference in longer term renal function.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Transplantation / methods*
  • Laparoscopy
  • Living Donors*
  • Nephrectomy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Creatinine
  • Tacrolimus