Moog,
I like your humor, even in this situation!
(I am sure they drew no more than 491 vials of blood.
)
I suggest combining most suggestions into one & streamline them a bit, as follows. First though, are three questions for you to answer. A] Is the "head of the vascular surgery department" the surgeon who will do YOUR surgery? (The suggestions that follow apply to the surgeon who will do YOUR surgery.) B] How concerned are you about the appearance of scar you will end up with? For instance, if you want to end up with a "bikini scar" -- i.e., a scar just above your pubic bone, covered by a moderate bikini -- and that is important, then you would prefer a laparoscopic nephrectomy. If, on the other hand, hiding the scar is not important, the open nephrectomy would still be a good option. C] How important is it that you leave the hospital and recover at home more quickly, and/or the you have less pain and for a shorter period of time? If not of high importance, then open nephrectomy is a viable option. (Don't forget, though, that some people who have laparoscopic nephrectomy have a more difficult time recovering than the average living kidney donor -- and longer than the average open nephrectomy.)
Once you have your own values clear, then ask YOUR surgeon the following. 1] How many laparoscopic LEFT nephrectomies has she/he done, then how many RIGHT laparoscopic nephrectomies has she/he done, then how many RIGHT nephrectomies that she/he had done had complications. 2] Ask her/him what the average length of stay was for *her/his* right nephrectomies, and the scar that results. 3] Then, ask what would he recommend for her/his spouse or sister, for whom she/he wanted to insure the most safety possible and for whom scar and length of stay or recovery was less important than safety. (Thank you, Fr. Pat.)
I did not include "surgeon shopping" in my list of suggestions, because I assume the recipient also would have to change surgeons and likely hospital as well. I did not suggest getting a second opinion, because the issue is not "which procedure is best" but rather "which procedure does YOUR surgeon have sufficient training and experience."
Many people are or would be squeamish or reluctant to ask the questions I suggest. Feel free to explain that the international LDO discussion group suggested them, including a physician living kidney donor. I.E., blame us!
Do not worry about the vascular surgeon asking you to make the decision about which procedure you want. He would not give you that choice if he thought one was appreciably less safe than the other for you.
Please keep us informed.
Bill