What is the common surgical term for the procedure where a kidney is retrieved from a living donor for transplantation?

The common surgical term for the procedure where a kidney is retrieved from a living donor for transplantation is donor nephrectomy. A nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney. When this procedure is performed on a donor, meaning an individual who is voluntarily giving one of their kidneys, for the express purpose of providing a healthy organ for transplantation into a recipient, it is specifically termed a donor nephrectomy. The goal of this surgery is to carefully and safely remove one healthy kidney, along with its associated blood vessels (renal artery and vein) and the tube that carries urine (ureter), while minimizing risk to the living donor and ensuring the kidney remains viable for implantation. There are two primary surgical approaches for performing a donor nephrectomy: open donor nephrectomy and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Open donor nephrectomy is a traditional surgical method that involves a single, larger incision to allow direct access for the surgeon to remove the kidney. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is the more common approach today because it is a minimally invasive procedure. This means it involves several small incisions through which a tiny camera (laparoscope) and specialized surgical instruments are inserted. The surgeon views the internal organs on a monitor and uses the instruments to detach and remove the kidney, often through one of the small incisions or a slightly enlarged one. The minimally invasive nature typically leads to less pain and a quicker recovery for the donor.