Al Turk AA, et al. - In order to gain information regarding the trends and outcomes of the use of percutaneous native kidney biopsy in the United States, researchers queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2008 to 2012. Although percutaneous renal biopsy is considered a safe procedure, a relatively higher complication rate was reported in this study as compared with the limited prior available studies.

Methods

• From 2008 to 2012, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried to identify all hospital admissions during which a percutaneous renal biopsy was performed, excluding patients <18 years of age or with a transplanted kidney.
• Researchers collected and analyzed data regarding associated renal pathology and procedure-related complications.
• Length of stay, mortality and cost adjusted for inflation were the outcomes studied.

Results

• This analysis included a total of 118 064 hospital admissions.
• Packed red blood cell transfusion (261/1000 cases), hematuria (129/1000 cases) and bleeding (78/1000 cases) were identified as the most common complications reported after percutaneous kidney biopsy.
• An overall mortality of 1.8% was reported in patients.
• Data also reported that the mean length of stay for each hospitalization was 10.65 days, with a significant difference between elective and nonelective admissions (6.3 versus 11.7; P < 0.01).
• It was also noted that the average cost per hospitalization was US$22 917 after adjusting for inflation, again with a significant difference between elective and nonelective admissions (15 168 versus 24 780; P < 0.01).