Robotic-assisted laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: Study in donors and recipients from 155 cases

Aim. - To evaluate morbidity and renal function of the donor and recipient during a robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy procedure. Patients and methods. - It is a retrospective study of 155 consecutive patients by robot-assisted laparoscopy in the living donor. Mean operating time, warm ischemia time, blood loss, complications according to the Clavien classification and evolution of creatinine clearance were analyzed in the donors. Recovery of graft function, complications and changes in creatinine clearance were observed in recipients. Results. - The mean operating time was 176 (+/- 23) minutes. The mean warm ischemia time was 4.8 (+/- 0.6) minutes. Twenty seven complications were noted. The loss of renal function was 19% at 5 years in donors. Renal recovery was immediate for 153 recipients. Two were delayed due to sepsis. Two patients lost their graft at 15 and 18 months. Seventeen complications have been identified. The mean kidney function of the recipients is measured at 63 ml/min at 5 years. Conclusion. - Robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy procedure appears to provide the donor with low morbidity and a moderate decrease in creatinine clearance at 19% at 5 years. Morbidity is also low in recipients with very satisfactory 5-year mean renal function. The technique should promote donation. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.