Postoperative morbidity after fast-track laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Postoperative morbidity after fast-track laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer

AU - Stottmeier, S

AU - Harling, H

AU - Wille-Jørgensen, Peer Anders

AU - Balleby, L

AU - Kehlet, H

N1 - Copyright © 2011 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

PY - 2012/6

Y1 - 2012/6

N2 - Aim Analysis was carried out of the nature and chronological order of early complications after fast-track laparoscopic rectal surgery with a view to optimizing the short-time outcome of rectal cancer surgery. Method A total of 102 consecutive patients who underwent elective fast-track laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were analysed prospectively from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Database supplemented by data from the medical records. We studied in detail the nature and chronological order of postoperative morbidity and reason for prolonged stay (>5days). Results Twenty-five patients (25%) had one or more complications. Surgical complications occurred in 19 patients, while six patients had medical complications as the primary event. Fifteen patients underwent reoperation, three died, and eight were readmitted within 30days. The median length of stay was 5days (range 2-42). Conclusion Postoperative morbidity remains a significant problem in the fast-track era, even in experienced surgical hands. Our results suggest that besides improvement of surgical technique further improvement of outcome lies in early recognition and proper treatment of complications and the perioperative optimization of organ function.

AB - Aim Analysis was carried out of the nature and chronological order of early complications after fast-track laparoscopic rectal surgery with a view to optimizing the short-time outcome of rectal cancer surgery. Method A total of 102 consecutive patients who underwent elective fast-track laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were analysed prospectively from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Database supplemented by data from the medical records. We studied in detail the nature and chronological order of postoperative morbidity and reason for prolonged stay (>5days). Results Twenty-five patients (25%) had one or more complications. Surgical complications occurred in 19 patients, while six patients had medical complications as the primary event. Fifteen patients underwent reoperation, three died, and eight were readmitted within 30days. The median length of stay was 5days (range 2-42). Conclusion Postoperative morbidity remains a significant problem in the fast-track era, even in experienced surgical hands. Our results suggest that besides improvement of surgical technique further improvement of outcome lies in early recognition and proper treatment of complications and the perioperative optimization of organ function.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2011.02767.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2011.02767.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21848895

SN - 1462-8910

VL - 14

SP - 769

EP - 775

JO - Colorectal Disease

JF - Colorectal Disease

IS - 6

ER -