David A. Axelrod

Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, East Carolina University

Papers

Total Citations

182

H-Index

About

David A. Axelrod is a leading transplant surgeon and health services researcher whose work has fundamentally shaped the safety standards for living kidney donation. His research centers on perioperative risk assessment, opioid utilization, and long-term outcomes for living donors. Axelrod’s landmark study, “Perioperative Complications After Living Kidney Donation: A National Study” (2015, 151 citations), provided the first comprehensive national analysis of donor complication rates, establishing critical benchmarks for surgical safety and informed consent. Building on this foundation, his innovative investigation into predonation prescription opioid use (2016, 31 citations) uncovered a novel risk factor for hospital readmission after nephrectomy, demonstrating that donor outcomes are influenced by pre-existing medication patterns. By integrating data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients with nationwide pharmacy claims and hospital administrative records, Axelrod pioneered a methodology that connects real-world medication use to surgical recovery. His work has directly influenced clinical guidelines, donor selection protocols, and perioperative management strategies, ultimately improving the safety and transparency of living kidney donation. Through rigorous, data-driven research, Axelrod continues to advance the field of transplantation, ensuring that donors receive the highest standard of care.