Laparoscopic versus open bilateral nephrectomy in transplant recipients with medication-resistant Hypertension: Final results of a multicenter study with 15 years of follow-up

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic bilateral nephrectomy (LBN) compared with open bilateral nephrectomy (OBN) in transplant recipients with medication-resistant hypertension. Material and Methods: Between 1994 and 2009, 66 renal transplant recipients underwent LBN due to poorly controlled hypertension. We compared them with 44 previous patients who underwent OBN. Results: The mean operative times for LBN and OBN were 195.4 ± 60.1 minutes and 145.7 ± 30.2 minutes, respectively (P =.013). The mean hospital stays were 4.2 ± 2.1 in the LBN versus 10.3 ± 3.9 days in the OBN groups; the mean complication rates were 9.1% versus 18.2%, respectively. At follow-up, the blood pressure (mean value 130/90 mm Hg) in 45 patients (68.2%) among the LBN group was well controlled without the need for antihypertensive medications. In 19 patients (28.8%) significantly fewer antihypertensive drugs (1 or 2) were needed compared with the preoperative status. The remaining 2 patients (3%), both of whom had returned to hemodialysis due to chronic transplant rejection, remained on a combination of 3 or more antihypertensive drugs. Among the open surgery group, 23 subjects (52.3%) showed significantly decreased arterial blood pressure without needing medical therapy; 18 patients (40.9%) required 1 or 2 drugs and the remaining 3 (6.8%) were on a combination of 3 or more antihypertensives. The last cohort had returned to hemodialysis due to chronic transplant rejection. Conclusions: LBN showed a higher efficacy than open surgery to treat medication-resistant hypertension after renal transplantation, reducing the postoperative trauma and the morbidity rate in high-risk transplant recipients.