Early Outcomes for Rectal Cancer Surgery in the Republic of Ireland Following a National Centralization Program

Following a national audit of rectal cancer management in 2007, a national centralization program in the Republic of Ireland was initiated. In 2010, a prospective evaluation of rectal cancer treatment and early outcomes was conducted.

A total of 29 colorectal surgeons in 14 centers prospectively collated data on all patients with rectal cancer who underwent curative surgery in 2010.

Data were available on 447 patients who underwent proctectomy with curative intent for rectal cancer in 2010; 23.7 % of patients underwent abdominoperineal excision. The median number of lymph nodes identified was 12. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.1 %. Compared with 2007, there was a reduction in positive circumferential margin rate (15.8 vs 4.5 %, P < 0.001), clinical anastomotic leak rate (10.8 vs 4.3 %, P = 0.002), and postoperative radiotherapy use (17.8 vs 4.0 %, P < 0.001). Also, 53.9 % received preoperative radiotherapy in 2010. Four centers gave statistically more patients (high-administration), and four centers gave fewer patients (low-administration) preoperative radiotherapy for T2/T3 tumors (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, being treated in a “high-administration center” increased the likelihood (likelihood ratio [LR], 2.9; 95 % CI 1.7–4.8; P < 0.001) while attending a “low-administration center” (LR, 0.3; 95 % CI 0.2–0.5; P < 0.001) reduced the likelihood of receiving preoperative radiotherapy for a T2/T3 rectal cancer.

Patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in hospitals following a national centralization initiative received high-quality surgery. Significant heterogeneity exists in radiotherapy administration, and evidence-based guidelines should be developed and implemented.