Presentation Patterns and Outcomes in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Seeking the Emergency Department for Consultation

Background  Patients with colorectal cancer may seek the emergency department for symptoms related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects as well as those from the disease itself and from surgery complications.

Objectives  To establish the epidemiological and clinical profile of colorectal cancer patients that look for consultations in the emergency department.

Methods  Retrospective study of emergency room charts from colorectal cancer patients that consulted in a single oncological hospital for the period of 1 year.

Results  Four hundred and forty-six consultations were identified (49.5% males and 50.5% females) with a mean age of 63 years and with advanced disease (most with tumor, node, metastases [TNM] stages III and IV). The most common complaint was abdominal pain (27.5%), followed by nausea (4.7%; more commonly seen in females with p =0.03) and bladder symptoms (4.7%; more commonly seen in males, with p =0.003). Infections (10.3%) and acute abdominal pain (9.1%) were the most frequent diagnoses. About 18% of them were admitted to the hospital and 80% were discharged home.

Conclusion  The profile of patients with colorectal cancer seeking the emergency department comprises patients with advanced disease and a similar proportion of males and females. Symptom-driven complaints were the most frequent reason for consultations.

Keywords
colorectal cancer; emergency department; infections; acute abdomen