Aortic calcification is associated with non-infective rather than infective postoperative complications following colorectal cancer resection: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

Complications following colorectal cancer resection are common. The degree of aortic calcification (AC) on CT has been proposed as a predictor of complications, particularly anastomotic leak. This study assessed the relationship between AC and complications in patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

METHODS

Patients from 2008 to 2016 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo (CD) scale. Calcification was quantified on preoperative CT by visual assessment of the number of calcified quadrants in the proximal and distal aorta. Scores were grouped into categories: none, minor (< median AC score) and major (> median AC score). The relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and complications was assessed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 657 patients, 52% had proximal AC (> median score (1)) and 75% had distal AC (> median score (4)). AC was more common in older patients and smokers. Higher burden of AC was associated with non-infective complications (proximal AC 28% vs 16%, p = 0.004, distal AC 26% vs 14% p = 0.001) but not infective complications (proximal AC 28% vs 29%, p = 0.821, distal AC 29% vs 23%, p = 0.240) or anastomotic leak (proximal AC 6% vs 4%, p = 0.334, distal AC 7% vs 3%, p = 0.077). Independent predictors of complications included open surgery (OR 1.99, 95%CI 1.43-2.79, p = 0.001), rectal resection (OR 1.51, 95%CI 1.07-2.12, p = 0.018) and smoking (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.42-4.64, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that high levels of AC are associated with non-infective complications after colorectal cancer surgery and not anastomotic leak.

KEY POINTS

• Aortic calcification measured by visual quantification of the number of calcified quadrants at two aortic levels on preoperative CT is associated with clinical outcome following colorectal cancer surgery. • An increased burden of aortic calcification was associated with non-infective complications but not anastomotic leak. • Assessment of the degree of aortic calcification may help identify patients at risk of cardiorespiratory complications, improve preoperative risk stratification and assign preoperative strategies to improve fitness for surgery.