Benefits of a Robotic Donor Nephrectomy Program: A Series of 100 Consecutive Donors
Multi-organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA
Meeting: 2013 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C1225
Background: The number of robotic operations performed with the da Vinci surgical system has increased over the last decade. Our center adopted robotic donor nephrectomies as a standard in 2009 to determine if the robotic system could provide additional benefits to live donors.
Methods: The results of 100 consecutive robotic-assisted donor nephrectomies were reviewed and compared to our prior 20 hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies.
Results: A total of 100 live kidney donors underwent robotic-assisted donor nephrectomies from June 2009- June 2011. Results improved after the first 20 patients, so this was considered the learning curve. There was one conversion to open in the first 20 patients and none since. Of the last 80, the average patient age was 38.2 with a body mass of 27.1 kg/m2. 21 (26%) of these patients were right kidneys and 12 (15%) had double arteries. The average start time to clamp time was 2 hours 21 minutes. Average discharge serum creatinine in the recipients of robotic donors was 1.7mg/dl. 48 (60%) of donors were discharged on day 1, compared with 45% of patients with laparoscopic techniques.
| Laparoscopic | 1st 20 Robotic | Last 80 Robotic | |
| POD 1 | 45% | 40% | 60% |
| POD 2 | 30% | 20% | 28.8% |
| POD 3 | 5% | 15% | 7.5% |
| POD 4 | 20% | 20% | 3.7% |
| POD 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Conclusion: Quality and safety metrics for the robotic donor nephrectomy program are consistent with laparoscopic donors. Robotic surgery has not limited the donor size or multiple vessels. The results indicate that with a properly implemented robotic donor nephrectomy program, it appears that post-operative length of stay can be decreased. This decreased length of stay may decrease the global cost of the procedure and offset the additional disposable costs related to the robot.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Cohen A, Williams D, Bohorquez H, Bruce D, Carmody I, Reichman T, Loss G. Benefits of a Robotic Donor Nephrectomy Program: A Series of 100 Consecutive Donors [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2013; 13 (suppl 5). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/benefits-of-a-robotic-donor-nephrectomy-program-a-series-of-100-consecutive-donors/. Accessed May 11, 2025.« Back to 2013 American Transplant Congress