Living Donation Procedures

Kidney

A nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney. This removal can be done by one of two ways:

• Laparascopic Nephrectomy
• Open Nephrectomy

Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

Laparoscopic nephrectomy, also known as "keyhole surgery," is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for obtaining a kidney from a living donor that can make the process easier.

In this procedure, the surgeon makes two or three small incisions close to the belly button. The kidney is removed through the central incision. Through one of the other openings, a special camera called a laparoscope is used to produce an inside view of the abdominal cavity. Surgeons use the laparoscope, which transmits a real-life picture of the internal organs to a video monitor, to guide them through the surgical procedure.

In comparison to the standard operation, it results in a smaller incision, reduces recuperation time and usually shortens hospital stays. Many donors are discharged from the hospital after two days and return to normal activity within four weeks.

Not all donors can undergo laparoscopic nephrectomy. You may not qualify for the procedure if:

• You have had multiple previous abdominal surgeries
• You are significantly overweight
• There is abnormal anatomy of the kidney

Your doctor will complete an evaluation to determine if laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a possibility.

Open Nephrectomy

Open nephrectomy has been the standard for the last 35 years and involves a five to seven inch incision on the side of the chest and upper abdomen. A surgical instrument called a retractor is usually needed to spread the ribs to gain access to the donor's kidney. Sometimes it's necessary to remove part of a rib for better exposure.

The operation typically lasts three hours, and the recovery in the hospital averages four to five days. Donors can usually return to normal activity within four to twelve weeks.

Reference and Publication Information

The United Network for Organ Sharing is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. To learn more about our content authorship and review process, please read about our Editorial Board.

The content on this page was originally created on February 25, 2005 by the United Network for Organ Sharing and last modified on April 2, 2007.

This web site is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.