Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Preoperative Anemia Undergoing Colectomy for Colon Cancer

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research 2022-05, Vol.273, p.218-225
• Main Authors: El Ghouayel, Maya, Hamidi, Mohammad, Mazis, Christopher, Imam, Zaid, Abbad, Mutaz, Boutall, Adam, Guerrero, Marlon, Nfonsam, Valentine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anemia - complications; Anemia - epidemiology; Colectomy - adverse effects; Colectomy - methods; Colon cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - complications; Colonic Neoplasms - surgery; Complications; Hemoglobins; Humans; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Preoperative anemia; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surgical outcomes; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.12.030

Preoperative anemia is relatively common in colon cancer patients; however, its impact on short-term surgical outcomes is not well established. The aim of our study was to evaluate short-term surgical outcomes in colon cancer patients with preoperative anemia undergoing colectomy. We performed a 4-year analysis of the ACS-NSQIP and included all adult patients who underwent colectomy for colon cancer. Patients were stratified into two groups based on preoperative anemia (Preop Anemia, No Preop Anemia). Our outcome measures were 30-day complications, 30-day unplanned readmissions, and 30-day mortality. A total of 35,243 colon cancer patients who underwent colectomy were included in the analysis, of whom 50.4% had preoperative anemia. The mean age was 65 ± 13 years and the mean hemoglobin level was 12 ± 2 g/dL. Patients in the anemia group were more likely to be African American, have higher ASA class ≥3, and were more likely to receive at least 1 unit of packed red blood cells preoperatively (7.1% versus 0.3%, P