Quantifying the Clinical and Economic Burden of Surgical Complications Following Left-Sided Colorectal Surgery

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Publication Date

4-7-2026

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Presentation: 27:08

Abstract

Surgical complications following colorectal procedures are common and associated with substantial clinical and economic burden. Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care, complications such as anastomotic leak (AL), surgical site infection (SSI), and peri-operative bleeding remain frequent and contribute to increased healthcare utilization. However, real-world evidence comparing the relative burden of these complications within a homogeneous surgical population remains limited. This capstone aimed to quantify the association between intra- and post-operative surgical complications and clinical and economic outcomes among patients undergoing left-sided colorectal surgery in the United States. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital discharge data from the Premier Healthcare Database (2016–2022). Adult patients undergoing left-sided colorectal surgery were included, with the first qualifying admission defined as the index hospitalization. Complications of interest included AL, SSI, and peri-operative bleeding; AL and SSI were measured at index and within 30 days post-procedure, while bleeding was measured at index. Outcomes included postoperative length of stay (LOS), total hospital costs, and 30-day all-cause readmissions. Multivariable generalized linear models were used to estimate adjusted associations, accounting for patient, procedural, and hospital characteristics. Among 197,266 patients, LOS was significantly longer among patients with AL, SSI, and bleeding compared to those without (16.3 vs 7.5 days, 15.4 vs 7.5 days, and 11.0 vs 7.4 days, respectively; all p< 0.001). Hospital costs were significantly higher among patients with AL, SSI, and bleeding compared to those without ($53,473 vs $27,633; $58,203 vs $27,270; and $40,599 vs $27,054, respectively; all p< 0.001). Readmission rates were higher among patients with AL and bleeding, but not SSI. These findings highlight the substantial burden of surgical complications and underscore the need for targeted strategies to reduce high-impact complications and improve outcomes in left-sided colorectal surgery.

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English

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