Surgical complications in a population-based colorectal cancer screening program: Incidence and associated factors

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs produce risks, including those derived from colorectal surgeries. The objective of this analysis is to evaluate the complications associated with the surgery.

Retrospective analysis including patients who required colorectal surgery within the population-based CRC screening program in Galicia (May 2013-June 2019). We analyzed the indication for surgery and the rate of in-hospital (mildI-II, severeIII-V, Clavien-Dindo classification) and at discharge complications. We performed a multivariate analysis to determine the variables independently associated.

In the analyzed period, 1092 patients underwent surgery (benign lesion 16.5%, pT1 CRC 18.2%, rest of CRC 64.6%) laparoscopic approach in 69.8% of the cases. In-hospital complications were detected in 19.2% of patients (mild: 13.4%; severe: 5.9%; deaths: 0.2%) and at discharge in 159 (14.6%) patients. Male sex was associated with in-hospital complications (OR: 2.0; 95%CI: 1.3-3.0). The variables associated with severe complications were: male sex (OR: 2.6; 95%CI: 1.2-5.5), tertiary hospital (OR: 0.5; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9) and ECOGI (OR: 0.2; 95%CI: 0.05-0.6). The factors associated with complications after discharge were age ≥60years (OR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.0-2.3), rectal location (OR: 1.6; 95%CI: 1.1-2.3) and in-hospital complications (OR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.5-3.2).

Surgery is the main cause of morbidity and mortality associated with a CRC screening program. These results must be taken into account in the decision making of lesions that are candidates for endoscopic resection.