Mini-Incision Donor Nephrectomy Techniques: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this article is to compare different mini-incision donor nephrectomy techniques in the literature.

Materials and Methods: We did a literature search using PUBMED using the search term “donor nephrectomy.” We compared different surgical techniques using different parameters like length of incision, length of operation, pain medications required after the operation, site of the operation, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results: We found 7 different surgical techniques of mini-invasive donor nephrectomy. Hakim and associates described the smallest initial incision size of 4 cm. There also are limited data on the analgesia requirements in 4 of the series, and 3 series that describe the requirements vary.

Conclusions: These techniques offer advantages and disadvantages to the donor and the kidney. We hope to encourage further work. Ideally, there must be a working discussion, long-term outcomes of donor kidney and recipient, as well as accurate pain records, both quantitative and qualitative, and a discussion of time to mobilization.