Post-surgery complications associated with reduced survival rates in colon cancer

This study investigated the association between the most frequent post-surgery complications and survival rates and recurrences (when the cancer comes back). Researchers reported that post-surgery complications have a strong impact on short and long term survival. 

A high number of patients with colorectal cancer suffer from post-surgery complications. Prior studies reported that post-surgery complications were associated with decreased survival. However, there is no information about the association between specific complications related and not related to surgery and survival or recurrence.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between specific post-surgery complications and survival rates and recurrence in stages 1-3 colon cancer.

This study followed 761 patients. 1-year overall survival (OS, time from treatment until death from any cause), 5-year OS, and time to recurrence were measured. 

Post-surgery complications occurred in 41.9% of the patients. 1-year OS was 93.8% for patients with no complications and 77.1% for patients with complications. 5-year OS was 70.4% for patients with no complications and 53.7% for patients with complications.

Patients who experienced anastomic leakage (leakage of intestinal fluids) were 3.29 times more likely to have worse 1-year OS. Patients with excessive blood loss were almost twice as likely, and those who experienced sepsis (infection that enters the bloodstream) were more than 4 times as likely to have a worse 1-year OS.

Sepis, anastomic leakage, and delirium were associated with a worse 5-year OS. Anastomic leakage, abcess (pocket of infection), and electrolyte disorder (imbalance of minerals in the body) were associated with the risk of recurrance. 

This study showed an association between specific complications after surgery for stages 1-3 colon cancer and decreased survival. 

This study did not included information on the severity of complications.