Factors Associated With Perioperative Complications in the Treatment of Pediatric Retroperitoneal Teratoma.

BACKGROUND

Perioperative complications are common during the surgical treatment of pediatric retroperitoneal teratoma (RPT). Some clinical and radiographic features could be associated with perioperative complications. This study was designed to identify the factors associated with such complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of RPT patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2008 and January 2020, including demographics, imaging data, intraoperative findings, perioperative complications, pathological data, and outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 91 patients were included in this study, including 30 boys and 61 girls. Of these, 71 patients (78%) were 1 y old or younger. Thirty-eight patients (41%) had perioperative complications (44 intraoperative and 7 postoperative). Preoperative imaging studies showed that the tumor distorted adjacent arteries, veins, and organs in all patients. More veins and organs were displaced and distorted by the tumor in patients who had perioperative complications. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of organs compressed and distorted by the tumor was significantly related to perioperative complications (odds ratio 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.19-2.41).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of RPT is complex and challenging. As majority are benign, a complete excision is usually curative. The number of organs compressed and distorted by the tumor is positively related to perioperative complications.