Complications, length of stay, and cost of cholecystectomy in kidney transplant recipients

We hypothesized that cholecystectomy may be riskier for kidney transplant recipients (KTR) given their lifelong immunosuppression, physiologic impact of renal failure, and increased risk of gallstone and biliary disease. Using NIS, we compared mortality, morbidity, length of stay and cost in KTR vs non-KTR following cholecystectomy in the US from 2000 to 2011, adjusting for patient and hospital level factors, including transplant center status. Mortality was higher (OR 2.4), morbidity was higher (OR 1.3), LOS was longer (ratio 1.2), and costs were greater (ratio 1.1) for KTR compared to non-KTR following cholecystectomy. While it is clear that KTR are a high risk group following cholecystectomy, the cause of this increased risk requires further investigation. •Kidney transplant recipients have higher post-cholecystectomy mortality and morbidity.•Length of stay after cholecystectomy is longer for kidney transplant recipients.•Cost of cholecystectomy is greater for kidney transplant recipients.•Post-cholecystectomy outcomes for KTR are similar regardless of location of care.