Introduction: The advantages of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy are now well documented. This new approach can lower donor morbidity and could stimulate living related organ donation. We described our original operative technique and report our preliminary results.
Material and methods: Since 1998, we have used the retroperitoneal laparoscopy in tree related living donors. Advantages and inconvenient of this new surgical procedure were discussed with each donors and inform consent obtained. The left kidney was harvested in the three cases.
Results: The operative time was inferior to 280 minutes, warm ischemia less than five minutes and bleeding less than 150 mL. Patients were discharged between the 2nd and 3rd post-operative days.
Conclusion: Retroperitoneal laparoscopy is a valuable alternative in transplant centres with skilled laparoscopic surgeons.