Screening and systematic follow-up for cardiopulmonary comorbidity in elective surgery for colorectal cancer: a randomised feasibility study

• Published in: World journal of surgical oncology 2019-07, Vol.17 (1), p.127-127, Article 127
• Main Authors: Rahr, Hans B, Streym, Susanna, Kryh-Jensen, Charlotte G, Hougaard, Helene T, Knudsen, Anne S, Kristensen, Steffen H, Ejlersen, Ejler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Colorectal Surgery - mortality; Comorbidity; Elective Surgical Procedures - mortality; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Lung Diseases - diagnosis; Lung Diseases - epidemiology; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Risk assessment; Survival Rate; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1477-7819; 1477-7819
• DOI: 10.1186/s12957-019-1668-7

One third of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have comorbidity, which impairs their postoperative outcomes. Scoring systems may predict mortality, but there is limited evidence of effective interventions in high-risk patients. Our aim was to test a trial setup to assess the effect of extra postoperative medical visits and follow-up on 1-year mortality and other outcomes in patients with cardiopulmonary risk factors undergoing elective surgery for colorectal tumours. Patients preoperatively screened positive for cardiopulmonary comorbidity were eligible. On postoperative day 4, they were randomised to either routine follow-up (RFU) or RFU with one extra medical visit and additional visits to the Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine Clinics 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was 1-year mortality; secondary outcome measures were length of stay (LOS), complications, and readmissions. Of 673 screened patients 326 (48%) were found eligible, 108 declined participation, and 198 were randomised. Postoperative medical problems and/or need for intervention were found in 15-23% of the patients at the extra medical visits. The 90-day mortality was 0 and the 1-year mortality only 2.6% with no differences between the two groups. LOS and complication rates did not differ, but there were significantly fewer readmissions in the intervention group. The 1-year mortality after elective CRC surgery was low, even in the presence of cardiopulmonary risk factors. There was no evidence of reduced mortality with additional medical follow-up in these patients. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02328365 registered 31 December 2014 (retrospectively registered).