The American surgeon
-
The American surgeon · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyElective 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. ⋯ 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.