Back Door Style: A Case Report on Retroperitoneoscopic Donor Nephrectomy - A First in the Philippines

Abstract

The aim of this report is to validate the effectiveness and safety of the retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in kidney transplantation and to document the first Retroperitoneoscopic Left Donor Nephrectomy in the Philippines done last July 5, 2018.

This is a case of 35-year-old female with no comorbidities but with an infraumibilical scar from a previous cesarean section underwent the first Retroperitoneoscopic Left Donor Nephrectomy in the Philippines.

The principle was pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy, hand-assist using Gelport device was applied only during vascular transection and allograft retrieval. Access to the retroperitoneum was established using a modified trocar placement.

Retroperitoneal Donor Nephrectomy is a safe and technically-feasible surgery as more urologists become proficient with this approach. The benefits of this approach are in line with the goals of living kidney allograft retrieval, to minimize morbidity and to maximize safety of the patient. Literature shows that it has comparable outcomes with Transperitoneal donor nephrectomy (TDN) and open traditional allograft kidney retrieval.