Using the Comprehensive Complication Index to Assess the Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy on Complication Severity After Esophagectomy for Cancer

• Published in: Annals of surgical oncology Vol. 23; no. 12; pp. 3964 - 3971
• Main Authors: Nederlof, Nina, Slaman, Annelijn E., van Hagen, Pieter, van der Gaast, Ate, Slankamenac, Ksenija, Gisbertz, Suzanne S., van Lanschot, Jan J. B., Wijnhoven, Bas P. L., van Berge Henegouwen, Mark I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.11.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anastomotic Leak - etiology; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Esophagectomy - adverse effects; Esophagogastric Junction; Female; Gastrointestinal Oncology; Heart Diseases - etiology; Humans; Lung Diseases - etiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Oncology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Surgical Wound Infection - etiology; Thromboembolism - etiology; Postoperative Complication; Pulmonary Complication; Esophagogastric Junction; Esophageal Cancer; Anastomotic Leakage
• ISSN: 1068-9265; 1534-4681
• DOI: 10.1245/s10434-016-5291-3

Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery for patients with esophageal or junctional cancer has become a standard of care. The comprehensive complication index (CCI) has recently been developed and accounts for all postoperative complications. Hence, CCI better reflects the burden of all combined postoperative complications in surgical patients than the Clavien–Dindo score alone, which incorporates only the most severe complication. This study was designed to evaluate the severity of complications in patients treated with nCRT followed by esophagectomy versus in patients who underwent esophagectomy alone using the comprehensive complication index. Study-design All patients included in the CROSS trial—a randomized, clinical trial on the value of nCRT followed by esophagectomy—were included. Complications were assessed and graded using the Clavien–Dindo classification. CCI was derived from these scores, using the CCI calculator available online ( www.assessurgery.com ). CCI of patients who underwent nCRT followed by surgery was compared with the CCI of patients who underwent surgery alone. Results In both groups 161 patients were included. The median (and interquartile range) CCI of patients with nCRT and surgery was 26.22 (17.28–42.43) versus 25.74 (8.66–43.01) in patients who underwent surgery alone ( p  = 0.58). There also was no difference in CCI between subgroups of patients with anastomotic leakage, pulmonary complications, cardiac complications, thromboembolic events, chyle leakage, and wound infections. Conclusions Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy according to CROSS did not have a negative impact on postoperative complication severity expressed by CCI compared with patients who underwent surgery alone for potentially curable esophageal or junctional cancer.