title: [Prognostic significance of postoperative septic complications in surgery of rectal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether there is a correlation between the onset of postoperative sepsis and the 5-years survival rate in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of all patients, undergoing rectal cancer surgery during the period January 1981-December 1987.
  
  
  METHODS
  General Surgery Unit, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients operated with Duke's stage B and C colorectal neoplasms, excluding cases with postoperative complications not directly correlated to surgery: pneumonia, thromboblebitis, urinary infection or fever of unknown origin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postsurgical complications distinguished as minor (wall abscess) or major (anastomotic dehiscence, peritoneal abscess). 5-year survival rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The actuarial 5-year survival rate of patients with major septic complications was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in noncomplicated cases. No difference was observed in the survival of patients with and without minor septic complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major septic complications secondary to colorectal surgery are still a threat in spite of improved techniques and antibiotic prophylaxis, and negatively influence the long-term survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Departamento Medicina y Cirugía, Lleida, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez Ruiz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viñas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andreoni
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate