Renal Artery Aneurysm in Robotic Donor Nephrectomy: A Case Report

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: With the current disparity between donor organ availability and recipient need, creative techniques help optimize the use of available organs. We present a case of a woman, who was worked-up as a kidney donor, who was incidentally found to have a saccular aneurysm on her renal artery. The patient was asymptomatic, normotensive, and had normal renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a laparoscopic robotic donor nephrectomy, repaired the aneurysm on the back table, and transplanted the organ into the recipient. RESULTS: The donor underwent a successful robotic nephrectomy, successfully eradicating any risk of aneurysmal complications; the recipient received an anatomically normal organ with excellent function. CONCLUSIONS: An altruistic act by the donor identified a potentially fatal lesion, which was not only remedied, but the intended donation proceeded when a creative approach was used.