Postoperative outcomes in patients following colon cancer surgery at the coloproctology unit of Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad

Abstract

Objective: To determine the results obtained in the first 30 days after the surgical intervention of patients with colon cancer, in the Coloproctology Unit of the CMDLT, in the period 2009 to 2021. Methods: Observational, descriptive and retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer. Postoperative complications were analyzed according to the Dindo classification. Results: 80 patients were operated distributed as follows: 23 right colectomies, 46 left colectomies and 11 patients, other colectomies (78 ADC, 2 neuroendocrine). Surgery was elective in 56 patients (70%) and emergency in 24 (30%). Primary anastomosis was performed in 65 patients (81.25%) and ostomy in 19 patients (23.75%). The median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (1 day – 28 days). Both major and minor complications occurred in 26 patients (32.5%). Surgical wound infection was the most frequent minor complication (18/80 - 22.5%). Major complications occurred in 12 patients (15%), with anastomotic dehiscence being the main one in this subgroup 12,3% (8/65). Overall mortality was 3.75% (3/80). Conclusions: In this study, the postoperative results were determined in the first 30 days of patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer in our unit. The most frequent complications were: surgical wound infection and anastomotic dehiscence. Surgery for colon cancer carries inherent complications and must be analyzed by each work group.