Mortality Associated with Laparoscopic Surgery for Colon Cancer in a Tertiary Care Institution in Norte de Santander, Colombia: A Retrospective Analysis from 2020 to 2024 (Period A)

Colon cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide. This study evaluates postoperative mortality and associated risk factors in patients undergoing laparoscopic resection, highlighting the benefits of this approach and the need to investigate outcomes and recurrence. The objective was to evaluate postoperative mortality in colon cancer treated laparoscopically, identify associated factors, the most frequent histopathologies, and the predominant location of the tumor in patients in a high-complexity hospital located in Norte de Santander, Colombia. A quantitative, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing data from patients treated between 2020 and 2024 based on medical records. Risk factors, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were assessed. Statistical tests such as Chi-square, Student's t-test, Kaplan-Meier, and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were applied to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic management. Postoperative mortality in the laparoscopic group was 12.24%. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (19.80%) and diabetes mellitus (14.85%). Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was present in 44.90% of cases, with tumor distribution evenly distributed between the right and left colon (45.92% in each case). Clinical stage IIB was present in 22.11% of patients, and 42.11% were classified as T3. Postoperative mortality was 12.24%, primarily due to tumor progression. Factors associated with higher mortality included stage IIB, lymph node involvement (50.55%), and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. Early staging and control of comorbidities are crucial to improve postoperative outcomes.