Risk of Stroke After Colorectal Surgery for Cancerous Versus Benign Conditions

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018 Nov;27(11):3311-3319. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2018.07.037. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Abstract

Background: Cancer treatment, specifically surgical intervention, as a possible stroke trigger is understudied.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database and validated diagnosis and procedure codes, we identified adults with index admissions for colorectal surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma (Group A) and compared them to admissions for colorectal surgery for benign conditions (Group B) and hepatobiliary or pancreatic surgery for benign conditions (Group C). Within the colorectal cancer cohort, we further identified patients who underwent open versus laparoscopic surgery. The primary outcome was readmission for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke up to 1 year. Cumulative risk of ischemic stroke was calculated using risk survival statistics, and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using adjusted Cox regression.

Results: Patients in Group A had higher 3-month readmission rates for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes than those in Groups B and C. Higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.79) in Group A compared to Group B was eliminated following adjustments for illness severity and vascular risk factors. Comparing types of colorectal surgical intervention for cancer, there was significantly greater risk of ischemic stroke with open versus laparoscopic surgery, despite adjusting for vascular risk factors (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.15-2.52).

Conclusions: We found elevated risk of ischemic stroke up to 1 year following open surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma compared to laparoscopic. More research is necessary to clarify the underlying surgery-related mechanisms that contribute to elevated risk.

Keywords: Ischemic stroke; epidemiology; risk factors; stroke; stroke prevalence; stroke subtypes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / epidemiology
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / epidemiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Digestive System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Digestive System Diseases / pathology
  • Digestive System Diseases / surgery*
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / diagnosis
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / epidemiology*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Laparoscopy / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Readmission
  • Prevalence
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult