Comparison of complications after radical and partial nephrectomy: Results from the National Veterans Administration Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Objective To determine whether radical nephrectomy causes less morbidity, less mortality and is associated with a shorter hospital stay than is partial nephrectomy. Patients and methods A total of 1885 nephrectomies (1373 radical and 512 partial) conducted between 1991 and 1998 in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were evaluated. Using multivariate analyses, outcomes were risk-adjusted based on 45 preoperative variables to compare mortality and morbidity rates. Results The unadjusted 30-day mortality was 2.0% for radical and 1.6% for partial nephrectomy (P = 0.58). Risk-adjusting the two groups did not result in a statistically significant difference in mortality. The 30-day overall morbidity rate was 15% for radical and 16.2% for partial nephrectomy (P = 0.52); risk-adjusted morbidity rates were not statistically different. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of postoperative progressive renal failure, acute renal failure, urinary tract infection, prolonged ileus, transfusion requirement, deep wound infection, or extended length of stay. Conclusions Partial nephrectomy carried out in the VA program has low morbidity and mortality rates, comparable with the complication rates after radical nephrectomy.