Risk factors for post-colectomy adhesive small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors for adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) following colectomy for colorectal cancer.

Patients and methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed 284 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at the Department of Surgery University Clinical Center Tuzla in the period from 1st January 2009 until 31st December 2014. All patients underwent open colectomy. The length of follow up was from 6 months to 6 years (median follow up 3 years and 6 months). The study included all patients who underwent surgery due to colon cancer. The study excluded patients with postoperative small bowel obstruction after colon cancer surgery with different comorbidities.

Results: In the analyzed sample of 284 patients, a small bowel obstruction occurred in 13.7% patients after surgery for colon cancer. The highest correlation of risk factors and the occurrence of postoperative small bowel obstruction after colectomy for colorectal cancer in multivariate regression analysis was found to be for Tumor-Node-Metastasis ≥3 (or =3.680), and postoperative complications (or =30.683).

Conclusions: Postoperative SBO have many causes, but in this study the highest risk factors were the Tumor-Node-Metastasis ≥3, and postoperative complications.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Obstruction; Small bowel.