Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy: innovations

Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy of Patient With Nutcracker Phenomenon

We report the case of a 30-year-old male patient undergoing a robotic-assisted laparoscopic left donor nephrectomy, where compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta was noted on magnetic resonance angiography before the operation. The patient was diagnosed with nutcracker phenomenon and was noted to be asymptomatic at that time. This is the first reported case to date of a patient with nutcracker phenomenon who underwent a robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. This article also reviews the current literature on nutcracker phenomenon and nutcracker syndrome.

Laparascopic nephrectomy: different techniques and approaches

Nephrectomy is, perhaps, one of the techniques in which laparoscopic approach has been widely used. It has quickly evolved since Clayman introduced it in 1990 with a renal tumor. Since then, its goodness has been extrapolated to most entities that require surgical removal of the kidney. We review the current most discussed aspects referred to the main laparoscopic nephrectomy techniques (simple nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, radical, and nephron-sparing nephrectomy) and particularities of this approach.