Evaluation of lymph node dissection in oncological colectomy performed by general surgeons

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the 4th neoplastic disease in terms of incidence and mortality in Colombia, even though the clinical outcomes are improving. The high volume of this patients is requesting the collaboration between colorectal surgeons and general surgeons dedicated to this area of interest. To date is surgery the mainstay of the treatment of this disease which should be carried out within parameters that allow to assure the patient the complete resection of the lesion. One of these parameters includes a suitable lymph node emptying that allows us to evaluate the prognosis of the disease and the need of complementary therapies.

Aim: To evaluate the quality of the lymph node dissection in colorectal surgery performed by general surgeons in two academic institutions in Bogota, Colombia.

Materials and Method: Transversal cohort in analytical and observational study. We analyzed 315 patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgery by general surgeons in the period from 2014 to 2017 in our institutions.

Results: The mean of the lymph node recovered was 16, the number of dissected lymph nodes was associated with the tumor location (p = 0.002), and the neoadjuvant (p = 0.001). However, no association within sex, approach and bleeding was found.

Conclusions: The colectomies performed by general surgeons maintain an optimal volume in relation with lymph node dissection without affect the remaining clinical outcomes. The number of lymph nodes recovered is associated with tumor location and neoadjuvant therapy.