The new kidney is placed on the lower right or left side of the abdomen where it is connected to adjacent blood vessels. This positioning of the new kidney helps to easily connect it to the blood vessels and the bladder. The new kidney’s ureter is attached to the bladder to allow urine to pass out of the body.

The diseased kidneys are not removed, except in these cases:

• Repeated infection that could affect the transplanted kidney
• Uncontrollable hypertension brought on by the original kidneys
• Back flow of urine into the kidneys, kidney stones

LAPAROSCOPIC KIDNEY REMOVAL

This is a relatively newer method, though technologically highly advanced. In this minimally invasive method, four or more small incisions are made in the abdominal wall. Instruments are inserted through these punctures to see, dissect, clip, and staple. Once the kidney is freed from its attachments, it is extracted from the abdomen through a 3-inch supra-pubic or peri-umbilical incision and cooled. It is then prepared for immediate implantation into the recipient.

As with all minimally invasive procedures, laparoscopic kidney removal causes less pain, cuts down hospital stay from five days to just a day or two, and hence there is a faster return to normal activity for the donor.