Postoperative complications predict long-term outcome after curative resection for perforated colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background/Aim: Perforation and postoperative complications have a negative effect on long-term outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical factors with special reference to postoperative complications predicting the long-term outcome in those for whom curative resection for perforated CRC was performed. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for perforated CRC at stage II or III from April 2003 to March 2020 were included. Clinical factors were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Forty-four patients met the selection criteria. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.5% and the complication rate was 47.7%. Excluding 30-day mortality, five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 62.3% and 73.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative complications (p=0.005) and pT4 pathological factor (p=0.009) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Only postoperative complications (p=0.023) were an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusion: Postoperative complications were significantly associated with RFS and OS, and pT4 was associated with RFS. The prevention and management of postoperative adverse events may be important for perforated CRC.