Operability, morbidity, and mortality factors in carcinoma of the colon

Discussion on the Pathology and Treatment of Carcinoma of the Colon

“…Until about 1938 radical resection of the colon for cancer gave in the hands of most surgeone a mortality of approximately 20%. Thus in a series of 3,000 cases collected by Ochsner and DeBakey (1939) there were 422 deaths 14o/. During the last five or six years, however, there'has been a most gratifying and dramatic fall in the operative mortality which coincides w"ith a period in which, owing to improved pre--and post-operative measures and' safer antesthesia, surgeons have shown greatly increased courage, tenacity of purpose and skill in the eradication of malignant processes of the bowel.…”