Retroperitoneal laparoscopic or lomboscopic live donor nephrectomy

Introduction: the advantages of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy are now well documented. This new approach can lower donor morbidity and could sti mulate living related organ donation. We described our original operative t echnique and report our preliminary results. Material and methods: since 19 98, we have used the retroperitoneal laparoscopy in tree related living don ors. Advantages and inconvenient of this new surgical procedure were discus sed with each donors and inform consent obtained. The left kidney was harve sted in the three cases. Results: the operative time was inferior to 280 mi nutes, warm ischemia less than five minutes and bleeding less than 150 mt. Patients were discharged between the 2nd and 3rd post-operative days. Concl usion: retroperitoneal laparoscopy is a valuable alternative in transplant centres with skilled laparoscopic surgeons. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.