Audit of Intraoperative and Early Postoperative Complications after Introduction of Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer

Objective: To compare complication rates after rectal resection using a conventional surgical technique (1983-1992) and mesorectal excision (1993-2000), and to find out whether the rate of complications changed with time after the introduction of mesorectal excision. Design: Prospective, observational study. Setting: University hospital, Norway. Patients: All patients who had rectal resections for cancer in the period 1983-2000. Interventions: In the conventional surgery period 217, and in the mesorectal excision period 176, patients had rectal resections. The mesorectal excision period was split in two, the early and the late mesorectal excision period, 88 rectal resections being performed in each period. Total mesorectal excision was done in 118 patients, and partial mesorectal excision in 58 Main outcome measures: Major surgical complications in both periods; intraoperative bleeding, transfusions during the hospital stay, and cardiovascular complications in the mesorectal excision period. Results: 23/2...