Predictors associated with planned and unplanned admission to intensive care units after colorectal cancer surgery: a retrospective study

The purpose of the current study is to identify the predictors of planned and unplanned admission to intensive care units (ICU) after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

We retrospectively collected CRC patients’ information from January 2016 to June 2021 in a single clinical center. The predictors of planned and unplanned admission to ICU after CRC surgery were analyzed.

A total of 4263 patients were included in this study and there were 349 (8.2%) CRC patients who were admitted to ICU. There were 34 (9.7%) CRC patients in unplanned ICU admission group and 315 (90.3%) CRC patients in planned ICU admission group. Older age (p < 0.01, OR = 1.093, 95% CI = 1.079–1.108), male (p = 0.013, OR = 0.721, 95% CI = 0.557–0.933), lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001, OR = 0.932, 95% CI = 0.896–0.971), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (p = 0.035, OR = 1.422, 95% CI = 1.024–1.975), coronary heart disease (CHD) (p = 0.036, OR = 1.579, 95% CI = 1.031–2.420), colon cancer (p = 0.002, OR = 1.475, 95% CI = 1.149–1.894), advanced tumor stage (p = 0.003, OR = 1.265, 95% CI = 1.082–1.478), longer operation time (p = 0.005, OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001–1.003), and larger blood loss (p < 0.01, OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001–1.002) were independent predictors of planned ICU admission. Older age (p < 0.01, OR = 1.062, 95% CI = 1.029–1.097) and longer operation time (p = 0.003, OR = 1.004, 95% CI = 1.001–1.007) were independent predictors of unplanned ICU admission.

Cautions should be paid for CRC patients with predictive factors to avoid unnecessary ICU admission.