Surgeons today can remove a kidney using minimally invasive techniques which are much less painful for the donor, offer a shorter hospital stay, and a much speedier recovery than previous techniques.

Laparoscopic Kidney Removal
At Einstein’s Kidney Transplant Program, laparoscopic kidney removal from living donors is available. This is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a shorter hospital stay and a speedier recovery.

Four small incisions no more than ½ inch long are made in the abdomen so instruments and video equipment can be inserted through the punctures to perform the maneuvers needed for the operation. When the kidney is freed from its attachments, it is removed from the abdomen through a fifth, slightly larger (three-inch) incision and prepared for immediate implantation into the recipient. The donor typically stays in the hospital for two to three days following the procedure and returns to normal activity in a week to ten days.

Mini-Incision Live Donor Nephrectomy
Mini-incision live donor nephrectomy is another option for living donors. Surgeons remove the donor’s kidney through a single, small opening in the side of the body. The incision is approximately three inches long. Compared to conventional kidney donor nephrectomy, the mini-incision nephrectomy involves a shorter recovery time and a better cosmetic effect. Patients who undergo this procedure typically stay in the hospital two to three days, and return to work within one week to ten days.