Living donor nephrectomy: a 20-year experience

Abstract

Objectives: To review the selection criteria and perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing living-related donor nephrectomy.

Methods: Retrospective chart review.

Results: Six hundred eighty-one patients underwent living donor nephrectomy during a 20-year period without any mortality. The postoperative morbidity included pneumothorax requiring a chest tube in 7%, urinary tract infection in 5%, wound infection in 4%, and need for blood replacement in 0.3% of patients. Two patients had clinically apparent pulmonary emboli.

Conclusions: Living donor nephrectomy remains a valuable source of kidneys for transplantation but is not without risk. By using care in donor selection and surgical management, operative complications can be kept low.