Morbidity and mortality after colorectal cancer surgery in patients with cirrhosis: A critical review of the literature.

Abstract

608 Background: Cirrhotic patients with localized colorectal cancer are potential candidates for tumor resection. The aim of this review was to evaluate the morbi-mortality after colorectal surgery. Methods: Comprehensive search was conducted using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the COCHRANE Library. Prospective and retrospective studies were selected. The study population included cirrhotic patients who underwent colorectal resection for non-metastatic colorectal cancer and patients with benign and other malignant disease. The postoperative morbi-mortality and independent risk factors were analysed. Results: Eight studies were identified. Among these, four studies compared the risk of colorectal surgery in patients with and without liver cirrhosis. The number of patients varied from 41 to 6,120. The severity of cirrhosis in most of the studies was classified with the Child-Pugh score. Class B and C were observed in 20% to 60% of the patients. Sepsis represented the main postoperative complication and occurred in 48% to 77% of patients. Mortality varied according to the Child-Pugh score, ranging from 11% to 41%, and was significantly higher for patients with cirrhosis in Child-Pugh Class C. Urgent surgical procedure had a negative impact on prognosis. The average length of hospital stay ranged from 9 to 18 days. Cirrhosis was associated with a 2-3 time and a 4-10 time increased risk of postoperative mortality in the absence and presence of portal hypertension, respectively compared with non-cirrhotic patients. The independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality were encephalopathy, ascites, low haemoglobin, prolonged prothrombin time, elevated bilirubin, hypoalbuminemia, postoperative infection, total colectomy, elective or non-elective surgery, the presence of co-morbidities and MELD score ≥ 15. Conclusions: Colorectal cancer surgery is associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis patients. Studies evaluating exclusively the operative risk for colorectal cancer surgery in this patient’s population are rare. Prospective controlled trials to optimize the perioperative management of those patients are needed.