Major postoperative complications following elective resection for colorectal cancer decrease long-term survival but not the time to recurrence

AimThe aim of the study was to determine the effect of major complications after colorectal cancer surgery on survival and time to recurrence. MethodPatients having a curative colorectal cancer resection and a follow-up of at least 3years were identified from a prospective database. Major complications were defined as Clavien-Dindo Grades 3b or 4 and their impact on time to recurrence and mortality was analysed by univariate and multivariable analysis. Postoperative death within 30days or during the initial hospitalization (Clavien-Dindo Grade 5) was a priori excluded. ResultsFrom 2003 to 2012, 868 colorectal cancer resections resulting in 63 (7%) major postoperative complications including deaths (Clavien-Dindo3b) were identified. After exclusion of Grade 5 complications (postoperative or in-hospital deaths), 844 resections with 39 (5%) major complications remained for analysis. Median follow-up time was 5.7years. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, the estimated crude 5-year overall survival probability was 78% (95% CI 75-81) in the group without and 65% (95% CI 51-83) in the group with major complications (P=0.009, log-rank test). Major complications were a significant negative predictor for overall survival (hazard ratio 2.42, 95% CI 1.41-4.14) when adjusted for sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, tumour site (colon vs rectum), R stage and tumour stage. However, in both univariate and multivariable analysis, major complications were not a significant predictor for time to recurrence (hazard ratio 1.29, 95% CI 0.56-2.99). ConclusionNon-lethal major postoperative complications seem to have a negative long-term impact on survival but not on time to recurrence.