Effect of obstruction on morbidity and mortality in patients with right-sided colon carcinoma: a case-matched study

In this retrospective case-matched study, our aim was to assess the influence of an obstruction on mortality, morbidity, and long-term survival in patients with right-sided colon cancer. Thirty-seven patients who had undergone curative emergency surgery for the treatment of right-sided colon cancer were matched according to age, American Society of Anesthesiology score, and disease stage with 37 control patients who had undergone curative elective surgery, and the outcomes were compared. There was a trend toward a higher rate of recurrence and a lower rate of survival in patients with an obstruction; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The only independent prognostic factor was tumor site, with hepatic flexure tumors having the worst results. Emergency surgery performed to treat an obstruction does not negatively influence early postsurgical morbidity and mortality. Survival of patients with obstructive colorectal cancer is correlated with certain pathological variables and less strongly associated with clinical variables.