Robotic kidney transplantation using right-versus left-sided grafts from living donors: an european multicentre experience (ERUS-RAKT working group)

Abstract

Introduction: RAKT from living donors (LD) is increasingly performedin selected centers with experience in robotic surgery and kidneytransplantation (KT). Of note, KT from LD using right-sided graft (RSG)is challenging due to the brevity of the right renal vein and has beenassociated with a higher riskof perioperative complications in selectedseries. In this scenario, RAKT may facilitate the performance ofvascular anastomoses in case of short renal vessels thanks to theadvantages of the robotic platform. However, the evidence on thesafety and feasibility of RAKT using RSGs is lacking. The aim of thisstudy is to compare the surgical andearly perioperative outcomes after RAKT from LD using right- vs. left-sided grafts in a large prospectivemulticenter cohort (ERUS-RAKT working group).