Abdomen anatomic characteristics on CT scans as predictive markers for short-term complications following radical resection of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Prediction and management of short-term postoperative complications in patients with colorectal cancer are essential in postoperative rehabilitation. Through CT scan images, we can easily measure some parameters of abdomen anatomic characteristics. This study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between the abdomen anatomic characteristics and short-term postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study. Eighty patients in each complication group and non-complication group were recruited with propensity score match. Demographics, perioperative laboratory results and surgical information were collected and compared between groups with univariate analysis. Significant elements were brought into subsequent logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis for further identification. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that preoperative white blood cells, preoperative neutrophil counts, rectus abdominis thickness (RAT), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), and abdomen depth (AD) were significantly different between the complication group and non-complication group. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher RAT (p = 0.002), SFT (p < 0.001) and AD (p < 0.001) independently predicted the incidence of short-term postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this study on patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer, abdomen anatomic characteristics including higher RAT, SFT and AD are associated with an increased risk of short-term postoperative complications.