Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at increased risk of requiring colorectal resection compared to the general population. Given the need for lifelong immunosuppression and the physiologic impact of years of renal replacement, we hypothesized that colorectal resection may be riskier for this unique population.
Methods: We investigated the differences in mortality, morbidity, length of stay (LOS), and cost between 2410 KTR and 1,433,437 non-KTR undergoing colorectal resection at both transplant and non-transplant centers using the National Inpatient Sample between 2000 and 2013, adjusting for patient and hospital level factors.
Results: In hospital, mortality was higher for KTR in comparison to non-KTR (11.1 vs 4.3%, p < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.683.594.81) as were overall complications (38.5 vs 31.5%, p = 0.001; aOR 1.081.301.56). LOS was significantly longer (10 vs 7 days, p < 0.001; ratio 1.421.531.65) and cost was significantly greater ($23,056 vs $14,139, p < 0.001; ratio 1.421.541.63) for KTR compared to non-KTR. While LOS was longer for KTR undergoing resection at transplant centers compared to non-transplant centers (aOR 1.68 vs 1.53, p = 0.03), there were no statistically significant differences in mortality, overall morbidity, or cost by center type.
Conclusions: KTR have higher mortality, higher incidence of overall complications, longer LOS, and higher cost than non-KTR following colorectal resection, regardless of center type. Physicians should consider these elevated risks when planning for surgery in the KTR population and counsel patients accordingly.
Keywords: Colectomy; Colorectal resection; General surgery; Kidney transplantation.