What are the donor criteria for a laparoscopic nephrectomy?
“Well, there are a variety of factors doctors will consider. Obesity might argue in favor of an open nephrectomy. Multiple arteries or veins to the kidney are sometimes a consideration. If you are a female donor of child-bearing age, several centers would prefer to have you donate your right kidney, since that kidney is somewhat more likely to be involved in infections during pregnancy (although this is infrequent). That would probably rule out a laparoscopic nephrectomy, since most centers laparoscopically procure the left kidney as the donor organ, primarily because the inferior vena cava – a large vein in the abdomen — is so close to the kidney on the right side.