Defining early morbidity of radical cystectomy for patients with bladder cancer using a standardized reporting methodology.
BACKGROUND
Reporting methodology is highly variable and nonstandardized, yet surgical outcomes are utilized in clinical trial design and evaluation of healthcare provider performance.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to define the type, incidence, and severity of early postoperative morbidities following radical cystectomy (RC) using a standardized reporting methodology.


METHODS
Between 1995 and 2005, 1142 consecutive RCs were entered into a prospective complication database and retrospectively reviewed for accuracy. All patients underwent RC/urinary diversion by high-volume fellowship-trained urologic oncologists.


METHODS
All complications within 90 d of surgery were analyzed and graded according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center complication grading system. Complications were defined and stratified into 11 specific categories. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to define predictors of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Sixty-four percent (735/1142) of patients experienced a complication within 90 d of surgery. Among patients experiencing a complication, 67% experienced a complication during the operative hospital admission and 58% following discharge. Overall, the highest grade of complication was grade 0 in 36% (n=407), grade 1-2 in 51% (n=582), and grade 3-5 in 13% (n=153). Gastrointestinal complications were most common (29%), followed by infectious complications (25%) and wound-related complications (15%). The 30-d mortality rate was 1.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical morbidity following RC is significant and, when strict reporting guidelines are incorporated, higher than previously published. Accurate reporting of postoperative complications after RC is essential for counseling patients, combined modality treatment planning, clinical trial design, and assessment of surgical success.
Shabsigh
Ahmad
A
Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, United States.
Korets
Ruslan
R
Vora
Kinjal C
KC
Brooks
Christine M
CM
Cronin
Angel M
AM
Savage
Caroline
C
Raj
Ganesh
G
Bochner
Bernard H
BH
Dalbagni
Guido
G
Herr
Harry W
HW
Donat
S Machele
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*