Persistent orchialgia after laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy: an underestimated complication requiring information adjustment

Purpose Laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy (LLDN) is the gold-standard procedure for kidney procurement. Ipsilateral orchialgia has barely been described. Some authors reported that ligation of gonadal vein (GV) above iliac vessel bifurcation could prevent orchialgia. We aimed to assess incidence and duration of orchialgia after LLDN in male donors despite distal ligation of GV. Methods Patients who underwent LLDN from 2014 to 2017 were included. Standard procedure consisted in distal ligation of GV, close to the renal vein confluence and proximal ureteral ligation. Patients’ demographics, per-operative data, and post-operative consultation reports were retrospectively reviewed. Orchialgia and scrotal symptoms were assessed through a non-validated questionnaire by phone interview. Results Sixty-nine donors were included. Orchialgia incidence and testicular swelling were 31.9% ( n = 22) and 15.9% ( n = 11), respectively. Median symptom duration was 15.5 months. Orchialgia led to medical consultation in 41.7% ( n = 10) of cases. All patients declared having been informed, prior to donation, about possible residual pain but not specifically orchialgia. Conclusion Orchialgia after LLDN affects more than 30% of donors, despite distal ligation of GV and led less than 50% of them to medical consultation, suggesting a large underestimation in clinical practice. Emphasis should be put on this complication during pre-donation information.