Advanced cancer patients who undergo surgery tend to have long hospital stays and higher likelihood of readmissions, referrals to extended care facilities and death, according to a study published in PLOS One.
Researchers examined approximately cases of 18,000 patients with stage 4 cancer who went on to have surgery. They matched the cases with patients who had similar characteristics before surgery and underwent similar procedures, but did not have stage 4 cancer.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
Here are three insights:
1. The stage 4 cancer patient group spent more time in the hospital, were readmitted to the hospital more frequently, were referred to another facility more often and had higher mortality within 30 days of the procedure than the other group.
2. Additionally, stage 4 cancer patients who didn't have any complications during their hospitalization also ended up staying in the hospital longer, were readmitted more often, were discharged more often to other facilities and had higher 30-day mortality than their counterparts.
3. The study authors concluded surgeons need to talk with these patients about their end-of-life goals, palliative care and surgery's risks and benefits.
"We commonly consult with patients who have acute surgical conditions and advanced cancer, and it has left us to weigh the risks and benefits of surgical intervention," said Sarah B. Bateni, a fourth-year surgery resident at UC Davis Health System in Sacramento and lead study author. "It's important carefully examine their risks before proposing surgery, and to understand what their goals of care are for their remaining days."