Kidney Transplant Program Donor Laparascopic Procedure

There are two ways to remove a kidney from a donor, the traditional nephrectomy, and the laparoscopic technique. Sacred Heart uses only the laparoscopic procedure for kidney donors. The laparoscopic technique greatly reduces the donor's discomfort and shortens the recovery time.

Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy for Living Related and Non-Related Kidney Donors.

Relatives and loved ones of our potential kidney transplant recipients present the gift of life (one of their kidneys) with nobility and altruism. The largest "hurdle" has been the post-operative recovery and delay in returning to work after a standard flank incision. Now, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy can be performed safely, and clearly allows the donor to return to their normal activities and work sooner, with more energy than what was previously observed with our "standard" donor nephrectomy patients.

Because of the short renal vein in most patients, typically only left kidneys are amenable to removal with the laparoscope. Under general anesthesia, an incision (approximately 3 inches) is made around the umbilicus for insertion of the surgeon's hand. The kidney eventually is removed through that same incision. Three or four laparoscopic "ports" (approximately 1 inch long) are placed under the ribs for the angled video lens and working elements, which include electrocoagulation dissection, the harmonic scalpel, and irrigation/cushion. The procedure takes about three hours.

Hospital stay for the donor ranges from 2-5 days. After discharge, lifting restrictions (no more than 10-20 pounds) are in effect for 4 weeks. Patients are able to drive as soon as they no longer require strong pain medication, and they may return to work in one-three weeks (with lifting restrictions).

The Kidney Transplant Program at Sacred Heart Medical Center embraces this technological advancement which allows our living donors a more tolerable recovery after nephrectomy. We hope this truly lessens the burden of the donor perioperatively while we continue to deliver excellent care to our patients needing renal replacement therapy.