The type of general anesthesia patients choose during colon cancer surgery may impact their chances of survival years down the road, according to research findings presented at the 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Sounds wild, but researchers settled on a clear recommendation after comparing two types of general anesthesia.
About the Anesthesia Research
Researchers looked at data from 177 colon cancer patients who had participated in a study where some patients received unsupplemented general anesthesia (UGA) and others received epidural-supplemented general anesthesia (ESGA) during colon cancer surgery. The researchers didn't actually conduct a study with their own participants; they just did some calculations based on data from another study.
Results of the Anesthesia Research
A clear pattern emerged that led the researchers to conclude that UGA is a better option than ESGA for colon cancer surgery. Basically, their number-crunching determined that patients who'd received ESGA tended to fare worse in the long term (after about five years) than patients who'd opted for UGA. They think it might be due to a number of factors, including reduced blood flow to the organs during ESGA.
Limitations of this Research
There are a lot of limitations here. First, there isn't much research about this topic. Whenever that is the case, it's generally wise to reserve judgment until more studies have been conducted. Second, the analysis was done on limited data--relevant information was only available for 177 people, a pretty small number.
So why am I bothering to tell you about it? Easy. If I were about to undergo colon cancer surgery, I'd want to know that which anesthesia I chose might make a difference in my long-term survival. If you're currently facing this decision, consider discussing this research with your doctor. She should be able to tell you if it's relevant in your case and help you weigh your options.
More Research About Colon Cancer Surgery- Open Surgery vs. Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer
- Choosing a Colon Cancer Surgeon
- Benefits of Esophageal Doppler-Guided Fluid Management
Source: Christopherson, R. and James, K. "Long-Term Survival Following Colon Cancer Surgery: Variation Associated with Choice of Anesthesia." Journal of Clinical Oncology 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition) 25.18S (20 Jun. 2007): 17015. Accessed 22 Jun. 2007 [http://meeting.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/18_suppl/17015?ct=ct].
