Postoperative mortality risk factors in colorectal cancer: Follow up of a cohort in a specialised unit

Introduction: The treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is usually surgical and involves morbidity-mortality. The aim of this study is to quantify the postoperative mortality in our hospital and to determine their risk factors. Materials and methods: Prospective observational study from 1996 to 2007 included 1017 patients who underwent surgery for CRC in our hospital. Identification of independent risk factors for postoperative mortality by multivariate analysis. Results: The mean age was 67.8 years. The surgery was elective in 879 (86.5%) and was considered curative in 878 (86.1%). The postoperative mortality was 3.6% (37 patients), 2.5% in the elective surgery and 10.9% in the urgent. The independent risk factors identified were: type of surgery (odds ratio for urgent vs. elective=2.8), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade (odds ratio for ASA III-IV vs. I-II=2.4), age (odds ratio for age >= 85 vs. <= 74=7.6 and age 75-84 vs. <= 74=2.4). Conclusions: We found a low postoperative mortality, which was mainly associated with age over 75 years, ASA III or IV stages and urgent surgery. (C) 2009 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.