Surgical Approach Does Not Affect Perioperative Respiratory Morbidity in Living Donor Nephrectomy: Comparison Between Anterior Subcostal Incision and Flank Incision

BackgroundLiving donor nephrectomy has been a routine surgical procedure that significantly increased the number of organs for patients with end-stage renal disease. Upper abdominal surgeries, especially when performed with an open approach, usually lead to a postoperative reduction in lung volumes and pulmonary compliance, which may predispose to the development of atelectasis and pulmonary mucus retention, important risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infections.AimThis study sought to compare lung function impairment, pain, and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications among live nephrectomy donors undergoing either an open donor nephrectomy through an anterior subcostal incision (SC) or a flank incision (FL).Patients and MethodsBetween 2006 and 2008, 110 subjects (44 SC/66 FL) had their pulmonary functions (spirometry) and pain (visual analog scale) evaluated preoperatively as well as on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 5. Postoperative pulmonary complications were evaluated daily by a pulmonary physician. A chest radiograph was obtained on postoperative day 2 to evaluate the presence of atelectasis.ResultsBoth groups were similar before surgery. Patients in both groups showed decreased pulmonary function from day 1 to 3 (P < .05). Subjective pain was increased until day 5 (P < .05) with a higher incidence of atelectasis among 36% FL vs. 25% SC. (P > .05).ConclusionLiving donor nephrectomy through either a flank incision or an anterior subcostal incision showed similar degrees of postoperative pain, decreased lung function, and pulmonary complications.