title: [Risk factors in patients older than 70 years with complicated colorectal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of patients over 70 years of age who underwent emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma, as well as to identify the factors that might have some influence on outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 54 patients older than 70 years who underwent emergency surgery for complicated colorectal cancer (42 with obstruction and 12 with perforation) between 1991 and 2002 was performed. Morbidity and mortality after surgery were studied. To determine prognostic factors of morbidity and mortality a multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall and major morbidity rates were 81.5% and 42.6%, respectively. The mortality rate was 27.8%. Multivariate analysis revealed that perioperative transfusion (p = 0.014) was an independent predictive factor of major complications and that a high APACHE II score (p = 0.031) and the presence of perforation proximal to the tumor (p = 0.042) independently predicted mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma in elderly patients carries elevated morbidity and mortality. The presence of risk factors should be taken into account when choosing the most suitable surgical technique and evaluating the need for intensive postoperative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Spain. josealvar@telecable.es
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Pérez
authors.forename: Ricardo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Baldonedo-Cernuda
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Bear
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Truán-Alonso
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pire-Abaitua
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors