title: Laparoscopic colectomy is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative complications than open colectomy: a propensity score-matched cohort analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elective laparoscopic colectomy (LC) has been shown to provide short-term results comparable with open colectomy (OC), but there is potential selection bias whereby LC patients may be healthier and therefore more likely to have a superior outcome. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of postoperative complications between matched laparoscopic and open colectomy cohorts, while controlling for differences in comorbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study (2005-2010) using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data was performed, identifying laparoscopic and open partial colectomy patients through common procedural terminology codes. Patient having rectal resection were excluded. The cohorts were matched 1:1 on a propensity score to control for observable selection bias due to patient characteristics, comparing overall complication rates, length of hospital stay (LOS), the incidence of superficial (S-SSI) surgical site infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) and deep-venous thrombosis (DVT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analysed 37 249 patients. After propensity score matching the LC group had a significantly lower overall incidence of postoperative complications (29.1 vs 21.2%; P < 0.0001), S-SSI (9.0 vs 5.9%; P = 0.003) and DVT (1.2 vs 0.3%; P = 0.001). The LC group had a shorter LOS (8.7 vs 6.4 days; P < 0.0001), while mortality was comparable between the two groups (4.0 vs 4.1%; P = 0.578).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LC is associated with a lower incidence of S-SSI and DVT than OC. Previously suggested advantages for laparoscopy, such as shorter length of stay and overall rate of complications, were observed even after controlling for differences in comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hollenbeak
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015983:Selection Bias; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Laparoscopic; NSQIP; colectomy; open; outcomes