Factors affecting morbidity, mortality and survival in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer in a district general hospital.

Introduction: This is a review of elective rectal cancer surgery during 1993-1999 at a single district general hospital to investigate the variables that affected the care of these patients.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study of patients presenting with rectal adenocarcinoma to a district general hospital where total mesorectal excision was practiced over a 7-year period was performed to identify factors associated with complications, death and disease recurrence.

Results: Sixty-one patients developed a total of 89 complications and 30-day mortality was 8.