Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) from living donors using right- versus left-sided grafts: Results from the EAU Robotic Urology Section (ERUS)-RAKT working group

Abstract

Introduction & Objectives: RAKT from living donors (LD) is increasingly performed in selected centers with experience in robotic surgery and kidney transplantation (KT). Of note, KT from LD using right-sided graft (RSG) is challenging due to the brevity of the right renal vein and has been associated with a higher risk of perioperative complications in selected series. In this scenario, RAKT may facilitate the performance of vascular anastomoses in case of short renal vessels thanks to the advantages of the robotic platform. However, the evidence on the safety and feasibility of RAKT using RSGs is lacking. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical and early perioperative outcomes after RAKT from LD using right- vs. left-sided grafts in a large prospective multicenter cohort (ERUS-RAKT working group).