Sepsis after major cancer surgery

Background: Cancer patients undergoing procedures are at increased risk of sepsis. We sought to evaluate the incidence of postoperative sepsis following major cancer surgeries (MCS), and to describe patient and/or hospital characteristics associated with heightened risk.

Methods: Patients undergoing 1 of 8 MCS (colectomy, cystectomy, esophagectomy, gastrectomy, hysterectomy, lung resection, pancreatectomy, and prostatectomy) within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999-2009 were identified (N = 2,502,710). Logistic regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate primary predictors (procedure, age, gender, race, insurance, Charlson Comorbidity Index, hospital volume, and hospital bed size) effect on sepsis and sepsis-associated mortality. Trends were evaluated with linear regression.

Results: The incidence of MCS-related sepsis increased 2.0% per year (P < 0.001), whereas mortality remained stable. Odds of sepsis were highest among esophagectomy patients (odds ratio [OR]: 3.13, 2.76-3.55) and those with non-private insurance (OR: 1.33, 1.19-1.48 to OR: 1.89, 1.71-2.09). Odds of sepsis-related mortality were highest among lung resection patients (OR: 2.30, 2.00-2.64) and those experiencing perioperative liver failure (OR: 5.68, 4.30-7.52). Increasing hospital volume was associated with lower odds of sepsis and sepsis-related mortality (OR: 0.89, 0.84-0.95 to OR: 0.58, 0.53-0.62 and OR: 0.88, 0.77-0.99 to OR: 0.78, 0.67-0.93).

Conclusions: Between 1999 and 2009, the incidence of MCS-related sepsis increased; however, sepsis-related mortality remained stable. Significant disparities exist in patient and hospital characteristics associated with MCS-related sepsis. Hospital volume is an important modifiable risk factor associated with improved sepsis-related outcomes following MCS.