Background: Some authorities recommend that colorectal cancer should be treated in specialist units but evidence that non-specialist units demonstrate comparatively poor results may be lacking.
Methods: Between 1987 and 1991, 267 patients were operated on by four general surgeons, none of whom was a specialist in colorectal surgery. Procedure-related complications, postoperative mortality and disease-related survival rates were analysed.
Results: There were four cases of intraperitoneal sepsis (1 per cent) and five of 189 patients (3 per cent) had clinical anastomotic dehiscence; there was no case of wound dehiscence. The postoperative mortality rate after elective and emergency surgery was 2 and 13 per cent respectively. The 5-year disease-related survival rate for curative and palliative surgery was 67 and 9 per cent respectively. There were no significant differences between the surgeons.
Conclusion: Disease-related variables such as early-stage disease and fewer patients presenting as emergencies may have a greater favourable influence on ultimate survival than surgeon-related variables.