Technical modification for laparoscopic donor nephrectomy to minimize testicular pain: a complication with significant morbidity.

The laparoscopic approach to donor nephrectomy is becoming increasingly common. While it is felt that the recovery from laparoscopic nephrectomy is quicker and less painful, a number of complications have been reported. A rarely reported on complication in the literature with significant morbidity is ipsilateral orchalgia. From 1998 to 2008, 257 hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were performed at our institution. Eight of 129 (6.2%) men complained of de novo ipsilateral orchalgia postoperatively. The average duration of pain was 402 days. Patients reported significant morbidity related to this complication. None, however, required further treatment. Three patients reported that they would reconsider organ donation as a result of testicular pain. Our technique originally included dissection and ligation of the gonadal vein en bloc with the ureter at the level of the left common iliac artery. Since recognizing this complication, we have adopted a gonadal vein sparing approach so as not to disturb the vessel below its point of ligation at the renal vein. To date, 50 patients have undergone the modified technique without experiencing orchalgia. In conclusion, ipsilateral testicular pan is a relatively frequent complication of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy and may be a source of significant morbidity. Using a modified surgical technique, this complication can be reduced or eradicated.

Randomized trial of thymoglobulin versus alemtuzumab (with lower dose maintenance immunosuppression) versus daclizumab in living donor renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We performed a randomized trial evaluating alemtuzumab, a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, in living donor (LD) kidney transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-eight LD first renal transplant recipients were randomized into three single-agent antibody induction groups: thymoglobulin (group A); alemtuzumab (group B); and daclizumab (group C). In groups A and C, target tacrolimus trough levels were 6 to 8 ng/mL, with 1 gm mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) administered twice daily, and maintenance methylprednisolone. In group B, the target tacrolimus trough level was 4 to 6 ng/mL, with 500 mg MMF administered twice daily, without methylprednisolone. RESULTS: With 29/38 patients now followed beyond 36 months posttransplantation, we observed no graft failures and only one death with a functioning graft (in group B). Acute rejection episodes were low: 0/13, 1/13, and 1/12 patients in groups A, B, and C. Biopsy-proven chronic allograft injury was higher among group B (3/13) versus groups A (0/13) or C (0/12; P = .01). Poorer renal function was observed in group B; the mean calculated creatinine clearance at 3 months posttransplantation was significantly poorer: 63.3 ± 3.0 versus 85.4 ± 7.2 and 82.2 ± 8.2 in groups A and C (P = .01). No differences in the incidence of adverse events were observed.