Impact of the introduction of pure retroperitoneoscopic living-donor nephrectomy on perioperative donor outcomes: A propensity score matching comparison with hand-assisted laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy

INTRODUCTION: We previously reported that the outcomes of pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy are superior to those of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy. Consequently, we introduced pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in our hospital. Here, we compared perioperative outcomes between hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy and pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 315 living-donor kidney transplantation procedures performed between October 2015 and December 2020 (213 involving hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, October 2015 to June 2019; 102 involving pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy, May 2019 to December 2020). After propensity score matching, 90 transplantations were included in each group (n = 180 overall). RESULTS: Donors in the pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy group had longer warm ischemia times (P < .001), lower serum C-reactive protein concentrations and white blood cell counts on postoperative day 1 (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively), and shorter postoperative stays (P < .001) than donors in the hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy group. Five (5.6%) modified Clavien-classifiable complications occurred in the hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy group; no complications occurred in the pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy group (P = 0.008). One recipient in the hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy group had donor-related delayed graft function. There were no significant differences between groups in recipient estimated glomerular filtration on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSION: The introduction of pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy was safe and effective. Moreover, it was less invasive and less harmful for donors, compared with hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy; recipient outcomes were equivalent.