Laparoscopic nu laparoscopy-assisted donor nephrectomy in the porcine model

Purpose: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is an established procedure in the porcine model. We sought to compare intraoperative variables between live l aparoscopic (LAP) and laparoscopy-assisted (LAP-A) donor nephrectomy. Materials and Methods: Eight domestic pigs underwent either traditional lap aroscopic donor nephrectomy (N = 4) or laparoscopy-assisted donor nephrecto my (N = 4) using the Pneumosleeve(TM) followed by conventional heterotopic autotransplantation. Results: No significant differences were noted between the groups with rega rd to vessel length, ureteral length, or postoperative urine output. The op erating room time was 108 +/- 12 minutes in the LAP group v 75.8 +/- 10.3 m inutes in the LAP-A group (P = 0,0065), Although the difference was not sta tistically significant, warm ischemic time, tended to be lower in the LAP-A than the LAP group: 70 +/- 3.0 seconds v 135 +/- 57 seconds, respectively (P = 0,059), Graft survival was identical in the two groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted (via Pneumosleeve) live donor nephrectomy shortens the operative time without affecting graft survival in the domesti c swine model.