PurposeThis study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of a preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for predicting postoperative morbidity in elderly patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer.MethodsElderly patients (≥70 years old) who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at a tertiary hospital in Korea were identified, and their cases were analyzed using data from a prospectively collected database to establish an association between major postsurgical complications and 'high-risk' patient as defined by the CGA.ResultsA total of 240 patients, with a mean age of 76.7 ± 5.2 years, were enrolled. Ninety-five patients (39.6%) were classified as "high-risk" and 99 patients (41.3%) as having postoperative complications. The univariate analysis indicated that risk factors for postoperative complications were age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, serum hemoglobin, carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer stage, and "high-risk" status. The multivariable analyses indicated that "high-risk" status (odds ratio, 2.107; 95% confidence interval, 1.168–3.804; P = 0.013) and elevated preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (odds ratio, 2.561; 95% confidence interval, 1.346–4.871, P = 0.004) were independently associated with postoperative complications. A multivariable analysis of the individual CGA domains indicated that high comorbidities and low activities of daily living were significantly related with postoperative complications.ConclusionA preoperative CGA indicating "high-risk" was associated with major postoperative complications in elderly patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. Thus, using the CGA to identify elderly colorectal-cancer patients who should be given more care during postoperative management may be clinically beneficial.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a clinically important pathogen in immunocompromised patients, especially after organ transplantation. However, there have been several reports of severe CMV infections in immunocompetent patients. This report presents a case of an immunocompetent patient who presented with fulminant hepatitis requiring liver transplantation. Because CMV was detected upon histopathologic review of the explanted liver, it was later assumed that CMV may be the primary cause of hepatitis. However, at the time of transplantation, we did not suspect CMV hepatitis. Following transplantation and initiation of immunosuppression, the patient developed viral sepsis with a disseminated CMV infection. Respiratory failure because of CMV pneumonia worsened despite antiviral therapy, and venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated. Although ECMO has been traditionally contraindicated in patients with sepsis, this patient recovered and was successfully weaned off ECMO. CMV should be included in the differential diagnosis of fulminant hepatitis, even in immunocompetent patients, especially when liver transplantation is considered.