[Early mortality in surgery of rectal carcinoma]

In a retrospective study (1984-1989) we analyzed 281 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. We were interested in the relationship between operative mortality rate and type of operation as well as age and sex of the patient. We stress that "death within 30 days of the last operation" best reflects the true operative deaths. The mortality rate after different types of operation shows no significant differences. With increasing age and the associated increasing risk factors the mortality rate increases. In men a trend towards a higher mortality rate can be shown, but not to a significant degree. In our series the 30-day operative mortality was 1.4%, and the in-hospital mortality rate 3.9%. We recommended that death within 30 days of surgery should be the standard definition for operative mortality rate, since it offers the best yardstick for peri- and postoperative management.