Factors affecting survival after excision of the rectum for cancer: a multivariate analysis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and categorize the independent prognostic effects of patient, clinical, operative, and pathology variables on long-term survival after anterior resection or abdominoperineal excision of the rectum for cancer. Proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze prospective data from 709 patients who underwent surgery at Concord Hospital during a 23-year period. No patient received adjuvant therapy. After adjusting for age and clinicopathologic stage, significantly poorer survival was experienced by males, patients with extensive tumor adherent to other organ(s), those with a high-grade tumor or a tumor showing venous invasion, those who had a postoperative cardiovascular or respiratory complication, and those who did not undergo surgery by a colorectal surgeon specialist. The nature of the operation performed had no independent effect on survival.