Unusual Complications Following Living Donor Nephrectomy

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to highlight unusual complications following living-donor nephrectomy within a single center. METHODS Between January 2003 and February 2008, 58 donor nephrectomies (52 open and 6 laparoscopic hand-assisted) were performed. All donors were followed up at 6 weeks and then discharged to regular yearly visits with their designated nephrologists. All complications were entered prospectively into a database used for this analysis. RESULTS Forty-four (76%) had a left donor nephrectomy, whereas 14 (24%) had a right nephrectomy. There were 22 men and 34 women with a median age of 48 years (range 27–70 years). Average length of hospital stay of the donors was 5 days (median 4 days). Fifty donors (86%) had no complications; the complications seen in the remaining 8 (14%) were hemorrhage in 4 donors, testicular pain treated by orchidectomy in 1 donor, neuropathic pain in 1 donor, and lymphoma in 1 transplanted kidney. CONCLUSIONS In addition to rigorous and careful assessment of potential donors, every effort must be made to reduce the risk of postoperative complications by adopting a careful surgical technique, ensuring a high level of vigilance, and early detection of complications—bearing in mind some of the unusual complications detailed in this report.