FACTORS AFFECTING SURVIVAL AFTER EXCISION OF THE RECTUM FOR CANCER - A MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify and categorize the inde pendent prognostic effects of patient, clinical, operative, and pathol ogy variables on long-term survival after anterior resection or abdomi noperineal excision of the rectum for cancer. METHODS: Proportional ha zards regression analysis was used to analyze prospective data from 70 9 patients who underwent surgery at Concord Hospital during a 23-year period. No patient received adjuvant therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for age and clinicopathologic stage, significantly po orer survival was experienced by males, patients with extensive tumor adherent to other organ(s), those with a high-grade tumor or a tumor s howing venous invasion, those who had a postoperative cardiovascular o r 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.