Objective: To evaluate the morbidity of living donor kidney harvesting and the long-term medical consequences and impact on quality of life (QoL).
Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of medical and surgical data for 114 living kidney donors in a single teaching hospital between 1977 and 2005. Complications were evaluated in relation to the surgical approach and body mass index (BMI) using a Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Changes in renal function (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance), proteinuria and blood pressure (BP) were studied by Student's t test or a Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon nonparametric test. Long-term QoL was evaluated by the MOS SF-36 questionnaire and a local questionnaire and was then compared to that of the French general population.
Results: The median follow-up was 63 months. The morbidity of kidney harvesting was significantly correlated with the surgical approach (p = 0.018) and a BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 (p = 0.014). No mortality was observed in this series. A moderate elevation of serum creatinine was observed during follow-up (mean serum creatinine increased from 82.2 micromol/l [+/- 16.3] to 104.5 micromol/l [+/- 19.9]), and mean creatinine clearance decreased from 113.4 ml/min [+/- 27.6] to 76 ml/min [+/- 29.9]. Little impact was observed on proteinuria and BP and QoL was not altered by kidney harvesting.
Conclusion: The perioperative complication rate is correlated with BMI and a flank incision. Kidney harvesting lowers glomerular filtration, but clearance remained stable during follow-up. Macroalbuminuria or hypertension may be observed, but their frequency is not higher than in the general population. The QoL of living donors is not altered. Clear information for the general public would allow promotion of living donor transplantation.