General info
This intensive training offers step-by-step guidance through the living donor nephrectomy procedure, focusing on both laparoscopic and robotic techniques. The course combines theoretical insights with practical skill development on a real-tissue model, enabling participants to master every stage of donor surgery, from patient positioning to safely harvesting the donor kidney.
What to expect:
- Hands-on expertise: Learn how to prepare the donor, position the patient, place trocars correctly, and make optimal use of both laparoscopic and robotic staplers to ensure safe and efficient donor harvest.
- Realistic experience: Practice on a real-tissue model (porcine model) to develop the dexterity and precision required for a successful living donor transplantation.
🏷️ Exclusive benefit for EAU members
Members of the European Association of Urology (EAU) receive a 15% discount on the course fee with the code EAUMEMBER2026. A valid EAU membership ID is required.
What you will learn
You will learn to:
- Follow a step-by-step approach to living donor nephrectomy in preparation of the donor transplant.
- Develop dexterity through practice on a real-tissue model.
- Prepare the donor kidney using laparoscopic and robotic techniques.
- Position the patient and place trocars for both approaches.
- Use the laparoscopic vascular stapler for donor harvest with optimal vessel length.
- Apply the robotic stapler for safe donor vessel harvest.
- Prepare the donor coat to enter into cavity for transplantation.
Faculty
Program
Arrival at Orsi Academy
Theoretical session: Introduction to the course and objectives within living donor nephrectomy procedure
- Patient selection and pre-operative management
- Laparoscopic set-up vs robotic set-up
- Different techniques: transperitoneal vs retroperitoneal
- Living donor nephrectomy laparoscopic & robotic donor instrument portfolio
- Scientific articles prove importance of oriented training in living donor nephrectomy
- Video discussions
- Complications
Hands-on training – Laparoscopic approach on anesthetized porcine model
- Left donor nephrectomy (transperitoneal)
- Patient positioning and port placement
- Hilar dissection
- Renal vein mobilization
- Renal artery dissection
- Separation adrenal gland
- Ureteral packet dissection
- Lower pole elevation and division of posterior attachment
- Clipping ureter
- Use of GI vascular stapler
- Retrieval of donor kidney
Lunch at Orsi restaurant
Hands-on training - Donor kidney organ retrieval and preservation
- Flush donor organ with cold preservation solution
- Packing the donor kidney – coat assembly
Hands-on training - Laparoscopic approach on anesthetized porcine model
- Right donor nephrectomy (transperitoneal)
- Patient positioning and Port placement
- Hilar dissection
- Renal vein mobilization à tips to preserve length
- Renal artery dissection à tips to preserve length
- Separation adrenal gland
- Ureteral packet dissection
- Lower pole elevation and division of posterior attachment
- Clipping ureter
- Use of endo-GIA stapler and Orientation
- Retrieval of donor kidney
End of day 1
Faculty dinner in Ghent city center
Arrival at Orsi Academy
Change into scrubs
Hands-on training - Robotic approach anesthetized porcine model
- Left donor nephrectomy (transperitoneal)
- Patient positioning and Port placement & docking process
- Hilar dissection
- Renal vein mobilization
- Renal artery dissection
- Separation adrenal gland
- Ureteral packet dissection
- Lower pole elevation and division of posterior attachment
- Clipping ureter
- Use of the robotic stapler (endowrist manipulation)
- Retrieval of donor kidney
Lunch at Orsi restaurant
Hands-on training – Robotic approach on anesthetized porcine model
- Right donor nephrectomy (transperitoneal)
- Patient positioning and Port placement & docking process
- Hilar dissection
- Renal vein mobilization -> tips to preserve length
- Renal artery dissection -> tips to preserve length
- Separation adrenal gland
- Ureteral packet dissection
- Lower pole elevation and division of posterior attachment
- Clipping ureter
- Use of robotic stapler (endowrist manipulation)
- Retrieval of donor kidney
End of the course
Resources
Flyer Laparoscopic and robotic living donor nephrectomy course
Endorsed by
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