All-cause 30-day postoperative mortality for older patients in developed countries presenting for elective colorectal surgery: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Review question/objective The objective of this review is to provide an estimate of the prevalence of all-cause 30-day postoperative mortality for older patients in developed countries presenting for elective colorectal surgery. Inclusion criteria As this review will report on the prevalence of mortality as an adverse outcome of a surgical intervention, the format does not conform to the standard PICO/PIO question. Types of participants This review will consider studies that include patients aged 65 years and over from developed countries, presenting for elective colorectal surgical resection. For the purposes of this review, developed countries will include only counties with a very high Human Development Index 25 . Studies including patients from countries without a very high HDI will be excluded. Patients having colorectal resection with or without anastomosis (joining of the ends of resected bowel) will be included. Patients having exploratory or diverting procedures (for example, patients who at surgery are found to have widespread disease which is unsuitable for operation) will be excluded from this review. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: rates of 30-day all-cause postoperative mortality (that is, patients dying from any cause within the first 30 days after surgery).