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ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the results of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy with open donor nephrectomy. Methods: A non-randomized prospective analysis was conducted of living donor kidney transplantations (118 open donor nephrectomies; 57 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies) between January 2005 and December 2007 in the Kidney Transplantation Unit of Hospital das Clínicas of Faculdade de Medicina of the Universidade de São Paulo. Results: Mean donor operative time, mean donor hospital stay, mean postoperative creatinine values, and rates of complications and graft survival were similar for both groups. A significant statistical difference in warm ischemia time was observed between the open donor nephrectomy and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy groups (p < 0.001). There was only one conversion in the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy group. Conclusions: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure for a donor nephrectomy, comparable to an open procedure with similar results despite a longer warm ischemia time.