Elective surgery in patients with end stage renal disease: what's the risk?

Little research has been performed in regards to the morbidity and outcomes associated with elective general surgery performed on patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). With minimal data about the severity of disease in these patients, we sought to quantify the differences in the ESRD patient undergoing elective surgical procedures compared with matched controls. A review of all ESRD patients undergoing elective surgical procedures at a University Medical Center between 2001 and 2005 was performed. Outcomes included length of hospital stay, 1 year morbidity, and mortality. These patients were then compared with a control group with normal renal function matched 2:1. Fifty-two consecutive ESRD patients undergoing elective general surgery procedures were compared with 104 matched controls. The ESRD group experienced more complications (25 vs 16, P = 0.05) and had a larger number of overall complications compared with the controls (33 vs 19, P < 0.05). Length of stay was significantly longer in the ESRD group as well (8 vs 2.65 days, P < 0.0001). Incidence of death (4%) in the ESRD group was increased as well. Patients with ESRD require longer hospital stays and have an increased overall incidence and frequency of complications than patients with normal renal function undergoing elective general surgery procedures. The significantly increased morbidity should be considered when evaluating expected outcomes.