ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Post-Operative Opiate Utilization and Prescribing Patterns in Living Kidney Donors

E. Calderon1, D. S. Ubl2, C. Jadlowiec1, P. Dean3, E. Castle4, P. Andrews4, B. Taner5, E. Habermann2, A. K. Mathur1

1Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, 2Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 3Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 4Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, 5Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 136

Keywords: Kidney, Kidney transplantation, Pain

Session Information

Session Name: Kidney Living Donor: Other I

Session Type: Oral Abstract Session

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020

Session Time: 3:15pm-4:45pm

 Presentation Time: 4:15pm-4:27pm

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: Living kidney donors (LKDs) become exposed to opioids during routine post-surgical care, which may lead to adverse outcomes. and since there is an absence of prescribing guidelines for this population, we aimed to determine patterns of opiate utilization and prescription among LKDs across transplant centers.

*Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study across three high-volume academic transplant centers from 2014-2017 to evaluate differences in opiate prescribing practices, usage patterns, and outcomes in living kidney donors based on demographic data, hospital, and pre-operative opioid usage, and previous national recommendations for postoperative opioid use (200 oral morphine equivalents (OME)). Univariate statistics were applied.

*Results: 899 patients underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy across the three centers; (opioid naïve (ON) n=873; opioid tolerant (OT) n=26). Median length of stay was 2 days overall. OT status varied by 3.7-fold across centers (1.9% vs. 1.6% vs 5.9%, p=0.005). Across centers, there were no significant differences in LKD demographics. 97.6% of LKDs were dismissed from the hospital with an opiate prescription, which varied by OT status (ON 98.5% vs. OT 65.4%, p<0.0001). Median OME prescribed was 225 OME (ON 225 vs OT 150, p<0.001). 11% of LKDs needed opioid prescription refills. 58.8% of all LKDs were prescribed more than 200 OME at dismissal (ON 59.7% vs. OT 30.8%, p=0.003), which varied significantly by center (center A, B, C: 48.6% vs 91.1% vs 65.3%, p<0.001).

*Conclusions: Compared to national guidelines, opiates were widely over-prescribed for LKDs in multiple centers. Novel guidelines for prescribing opiates to LKDs and pain management are needed.

Characteristic Opioid Naive
N=873
Opioid Tolerant N=26 Total
N=899
P Value
Age Group 18-34
35-49
50-64
65-79
>80
22%
40%
33%
6%
0%
8%
39%
39%
12%
4%
22%
40%
33%
6%
0.1%
0.001
Sex Male
Female
38%
62%
46%
54%
38%
62%
0.38
LOS (Days) 1.97(1-7) 1.62 (1-3) 1.96(1-7) 0.008
Opioid Rx at Dismissal 99% 65% 98% <0.001
Opioid Refill Rx 11% 8% 11% 0.096
Median  OME at Dismissal 225 (150,300) 150 (0, 225) 225 (150,300) <0.001
OME > 200 60% 31% 59% 0.003

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Calderon E, Ubl DS, Jadlowiec C, Dean P, Castle E, Andrews P, Taner B, Habermann E, Mathur AK. Post-Operative Opiate Utilization and Prescribing Patterns in Living Kidney Donors [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/post-operative-opiate-utilization-and-prescribing-patterns-in-living-kidney-donors/. Accessed June 6, 2025.

« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences