Laparoscopic Left Donor Nephrectomy (Transperitoneal Approach)

Abstract

The left side is the preferred renal unit for engrafting. The obvious reasons for this are easier dissection of the hilum, anatomically longer vein. This makes the recipient surgery easier. A longer renal vein offers ease for the recipient surgeon. However, in comparison to the right side, the left side involves a few inherent anatomical challenges, which include the need for dissection of the lumbar vein, the adrenal vein, and the gonadal vein. The left side requires aggressive dissection of the upper pole particularly the spleen. In this chapter, we emphasize on the intricacies in the steps of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy on the left side.