Thirty days post-operative mortality after surgery for colorectal cancer: a descriptive study

• Published in: Journal of gastrointestinal oncology Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 613 - 617
• Main Authors: van Eeghen, Elmer E, den Boer, Frank C, Loffeld, Ruud J L F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China AME Publishing Company 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Original; bleeding; Charlson score; post-operative mortality; Colorectal cancer; anastomotic leakage
• ISSN: 2078-6891; 2219-679X
• DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2015.079

The goal of surgery for colorectal cancer is cure. Unfortunately post-operative mortality occurs. This study aims to identify co-morbidity and causes of mortality in the post-operative period in relation to direct technical complications of surgery. All consecutive patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer were included. Co-morbidity was determined via the Charlson co-morbidity score. The post-operative course was studied and cause of death within 30 days was determined. Patients were divided in two groups: group 1 died within 30 days after surgery and group 2 survived for longer than 30 days. Twenty three out of 333 patients (6.9%) with colon cancer and 6 out of 112 (5.3%) with rectal cancer died in the post-operative period. Patients in group 1 were significantly older than patients in group 2 (P<0.001). Patients in group 1 with colon cancer also significantly had more often a higher stage of cancer (P=0.03). The Charlson co-morbidity score for patients with colon cancer in group 1 was mean 5.17 (SD 1.57, range, 1-8), and for rectal cancer mean 4.83 (SD 2.32, range, 2-7). There was no difference in Charlson co-morbidity score when patients from groups 1 and 2 were compared. In group 1, 13 (44%) died as a direct consequence of technical surgical complications. Sixteen patients died due to complications because of pre-existing co-morbidity. Post-operative mortality very often is the direct result of pre-existing co-morbidity and not always the direct result of the surgical procedure.