title: Postoperative morbidity and mortality following resection of the colon and rectum for cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of postoperative complications and mortality of patients with colorectal cancer when treated by conventional surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morbidity and mortality following open resection for colorectal cancer were analyzed in 1,846 patients whose clinical, operative, and pathology data were prospectively documented over a 20-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality following elective resection of the left and right colon was low, whereas overall morbidity was high (37.2 percent). Respiratory and cardiac complications were especially common. Incidence of clinically significant leakage was similar following right (0.5 percent) or left (1.1 percent) hemicolectomy. Incidence of anastomotic leakage was significantly higher after emergency right hemicolectomy (4.3 percent). Overall morbidity following excision of the rectum was high (40.2 percent). Respiratory and cardiac complications predominated. Incidence of clinically significant anastomotic leakage following anterior resection was low (2.9 percent). Over the years, there has been a decline in the number of patients with tumor demonstrated histologically in a line of resection, suggesting an improved local surgical clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results following conventional surgery may be useful when evaluating new techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bokey
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chapuis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Koorey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Newland
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology