Robotic trans-abdominal transplant nephrectomy for a failed renal allograft

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery for removal of a failed renal allograft has not previously been reported. Herein, we report the first robotic trans-abdominal transplant nephrectomy (TN). A 34-year-old male with Alport's syndrome lost function of his deceased donor allograft after 12 years and presented with fever, pain over his allograft and hematuria. The operation was performed intra-abdominally using the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System with four trocars. The total operative time was 235-min and the estimated blood loss was less than 25-cm3. There were no peri-operative complications observed and the patient was discharged to home less than 24-h postoperatively. The utilization of robotic technology facilitated the successful performance of a minimally invasive, trans-abdominal TN. The authors report a successful fully robotic trans-abdominal transplant nephrectomy.