Comparison of the continuation and discontinuation of perioperative antiplatelet therapy in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: A retrospective, multicenter, observational study (YCOG 1603)

AIM: The present study aimed to examine the effect of continuing antiplatelet therapy in the perioperative period for patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer who had received preoperative antiplatelet therapy. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study included patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer between January 2011 and May 2020. The study population was limited to patients who used antiplatelet therapy preoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 214 colorectal cancer patients who received antiplatelet therapy preoperatively were included in the present study. Eighty‐nine patients underwent surgery under the continuation of antiplatelet therapy, and 125 patients underwent surgery under the discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy before surgery. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to intraoperative blood loss (P = .889), intraoperative blood transfusion (P = 1.000), and conversion to laparotomy (P = 1.000). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of postoperative hemorrhagic complications (Clavien‐Dindo Grade ≥II, P = .453; Grade ≥III, P = .572) or three‐point major adverse cardiovascular events (P = .268). However, there were two cases of postoperative non‐fatal stroke in the discontinued antiplatelet therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that there were no significant differences in the surgical outcomes and postoperative complications between colorectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic resection with the continuation of antiplatelet therapy in the perioperative period and those in whom antiplatelet therapy was discontinued during the perioperative period. From the viewpoint of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk, it may be better for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer to continue antiplatelet therapy. This study was registered with the Japanese Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000038707 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm).