Clinical Presentation and Postoperative Complications In Patients With Colorectal Carcinoma: 7-Year Experience

Akram Rajput, Saeed Ahmed, Syed Ali Haider, Muhammad Hassan, Shuja Shaukat

Abstract

Objective

To find out clinical presentation and postoperative complications in patients with colorectal cancer.

Study design

Cross sectional study.

Place & Duration of study

Department of Surgery, Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, from July 2010 to September 2017.

Methodology•

A total of 70 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancers and treated in our unit were included in the study. All biopsy proven colorectal carcinoma patients of more than 14 years of age were enrolled. Percentages were calculated for qualitative data like gender, age group, mode of admission, symptoms, location/site and stage of colorectal tumor, type of surgery performed and postoperative complications. Mean and standard deviation were determined for age. Student t-test and Chi square test were used to determine significance where appropriate.

Results

There were 46 (57.14%) males and 24 (42.85%)  females. Median age  was 60 year whereas mean age was 52.83+17.51 year. Most of the patients belonged to age group 20-40 years (n=25  35.71%) with a statistically significant male predominance in this age group (p = 0.009) in contrast to older age groups. Twenty-five (35.17%) patients had rectal tumors and the predominant stage in them was stage IV at presentation in contrast to stage III being more prevalent in tumors located in colon. Bleeding per rectum was experienced by 48 (68.57%) patients and midline wound infection was the most common postoperative complication observed.

Conclusions•

More males presented with colorectal carcinoma. Patients in their third and fourth decades of life were more affected by CRC and even in this group male predominance was observed. Bleeding per rectum remains the most commonly experienced symptom by the CRC patients while rectum being the most common site of tumor.

Key words •

Colorectal cancer (CRC),Colon cancer, Rectal cancer, Epidemiology, Surgery.