Variation in the Care of Surgical Conditions: Renal Disease

This report highlights treatments for kidney failure—both dialysis and kidney transplantation—and describes patterns of care for patients in the United States. The evolution of ESRD treatments is first presented, from basic surgical techniques and rudimentary dialysis machines to the complex, multi-specialty model practiced today. Most importantly, the report examines current quality improvement initiatives and identifies areas in need of system-level improvement.