[Is the traditional open donor nephrectomy in living donor renal transplantation still up to date?].

Background: Living donor kidney transplantation is a well-established method to reduce time on the waiting list. Although the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has already been established worldwide, more than 80% of the living donor nephrectomies are performed as a traditional open donor nephrectomy in Germany. The aim of our study was to analyze perioperative data and long-term outcome of donors and recipients following open donor nephrectomy.

Methods: From February 2004 to July 2008, a total of 51 open donor nephrectomies were performed in Tuebingen University Hospital. Forty-five data of corresponding transplant donors and recipients were analyzed. The Kocak classification which provides a format to compare postoperative complications after living donor nephrectomy was used.

Results: Five-year graft survival was 100%. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperatively Grad I complications were observed in 10 donors (22.2%). In the long term no major complications occurred. Two donors (4.4%) had newly diagnosed hypertension and required antihypertensive medication. None of the donors developed proteinuria. Right-sided transabdominal donor nephrectomy was associated with a shorter mean hospital stay compared to left-sided lumbar nephrectomy. (7.8 ± 2.4 vs. 9.2 ± 1.8 days, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Open donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure with an excellent graft survival. Complication rates in our center are comparable to recent results in laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy. Therefore, the open donor nephrectomy remains important.