Metabolic syndrome as a predictor for postoperative complications after urologic surgery

To elucidate whether metabolic syndrome (MS) has an effect on outcomes after nephrectomy, prostatectomy, or cystectomy.

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's database, patients undergoing cystectomy, nephrectomy, or prostatectomy between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed to assess for the presence of MS and a variety of perioperative complications.

The overall complication rate for cystectomy, nephrectomy, and prostatectomy was 52.4%, 20.2%, and 8.7%, respectively. On multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex, body mass index, cardiac comorbidity, functional status, surgical approach (prostatectomy and nephrectomy), and surgery within 30 days, MS was not associated with perioperative complications in patients undergoing cystectomy (odds ratio [OR], 0.760; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.476-1.213). On multivariate analysis, the presence of MS was a significant predictor of perioperative complications after radical nephrectomy (adjusted OR, 1.489; 95% CI, 1.146-1.934). With regards to prostatectomy, MS was not a significant predictor of complications (OR, 1.065; 95% CI, 0.739-1.535).

Patients in this cohort with MS undergoing cystectomy or prostatectomy did not experience a higher rate of complications compared with patients without MS, although patients with MS undergoing nephrectomy had a higher complication rate. It may be warranted to preoperatively counsel patients with MS undergoing nephrectomy that complication rates may be higher.