New Method for Removing Kidneys Shortens Recovery Time for Donors
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From Times staff and wire reports
Transplantable kidneys can be removed from donors through a small incision at the navel using laparoscopic techniques, minimizing pain and recovery times for the donors, researchers from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore reported at a meeting of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons in Chicago. The team has performed the procedure on 81 donors.
With the laparoscopic procedure, kidney donors stay in the hospital an average of 2.2 days instead of the usual 4.5 days, the researchers said, and they return to work in 16 days rather than 51. The kidneys removed through the navel have proved fully functional, said Dr. Stephen Jacobs.
