Short-term morbidity and mortality after right hemicolectomy: an update of national performance in the Netherlands

The purpose of this Dutch retrospective population-based study was to evaluate how short-term outcomes and inter-hospital variability after right hemicolectomy for colon cancer have evolved between 2012 and 2020.

Patients who underwent right hemicolectomy for primary solitary colon cancer between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2020 and were registered in the Dutch Colorectal Audit were included. Surgical characteristics and outcomes were assessed during three time periods (2012-2014, 2015-2017, 2018-2020). Complications and mortality were the primary outcomes, and reintervention, readmission and length of stay secondary outcomes.

In total, 29 274 patients were included. Significant increase in minimally invasive surgery (51.1% 2012-2014, 73.2% 2015-2017, 85.0% 2018-2020), increase in conversion (6.6%, 7.8%, 9.1%, P < 0.001) and decrease in acute/urgent resections (15.9%, 11.7%, 10.9%, P < 0.001) were found. The overall complication rate was slightly lower in the third period (30.9%, 30.6%, 28.8%, P = 0.004), primarily because of decreasing non-surgical complications (19.7%, 20.6%, 17.6%, P < 0.001), while surgical complications remained unchanged (17.5%, 18.3%, 18.2%, P = 0.277). Postoperative mortality was 3.4%, 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively. Reintervention rate slightly decreased (9.4%, 8.3%, 8.6%, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients admitted for more than 6 days decreased over time (54.3%, 42.4%, 34.3%, P < 0.001), with an increase in readmission rate (7.4%, 6.8%, 9.3%, P < 0.001). Inter-hospital variability decreased over time for complications, length of stay and conversion.

This study shows a national decreasing inter-hospital variability in clinical outcomes after right hemicolectomy and a decrease in postoperative complications. Despite increasing use of laparoscopy, surgical complications and mortality remained stable over time.