[Emergencies in colorectal carcinoma: negative prognostic factor?].

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Gastroenterology
• Clinical Research

Context:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) management often involves emergency surgery for complicated cases, posing potential risks compared to elective procedures.
• Outcomes for emergency CRC surgery are critical to understand for patient stratification and treatment planning.
• Comparing emergency versus elective surgical approaches provides insights into treatment efficacy and patient survival.

Purpose:

• To compare in-hospital mortality, 5-year survival, and recurrence incidence between emergency and elective surgical treatments for complicated colorectal cancer.
• To identify prognostic factors influencing outcomes in patients undergoing emergency colorectal cancer surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of surgical timing on the overall survival and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Summary:

• This study analyzed 219 patients with complicated colorectal cancer undergoing emergency surgery, comparing their outcomes to 701 patients who had elective surgery.
• No statistically significant differences in mortality, 5-year survival, or recurrence rates were observed between the emergency and elective groups.
• Multivariate analysis identified tumor stage as the sole independent prognostic factor, irrespective of surgical timing.

Impact:

• Findings suggest that emergency surgery for complicated colorectal cancer is a viable option with comparable outcomes to elective surgery.
• Highlights the critical role of tumor stage in determining prognosis, guiding clinical decision-making and patient counseling.
• Informs surgical practice by potentially reducing apprehension regarding emergency interventions for complex colorectal cancer cases.