Postoperative morbidity after colorectal surgery was retrospectively investigated, comparing 32 alcoholics (greater than or equal to 60 gm of alcohol a day) to 32 controls (less than 25 gm of alcohol a day). The material originated from 260 male patients and the two groups were paired with respect to operative procedure, diagnosis, age-complicating cardiopulmonary diseases, weight, and smoking habits. Postoperative morbidity was higher (P less than .01) in the alcohol group (59 percent with major complications, 75 percent with major and minor complications) compared with the control group (19 percent with major, 33 percent with major and minor). The alcoholics also stayed longer in the hospital (26 days vs. 17 days) (P greater than .01). This apparent increased surgical risk in alcoholics is reevaluated in prospective investigations.

Morbidity after transurethral resection of the prostate gland was retrospectively investigated by comparing 73 alcoholics with 73 controls (daily alcohol consumption greater than or equal to 60 g vs. less than 25 g). The compared groups derived from 1,172 patients and were matched for diagnosis, age, weight, smoking habits, treatment for cardiovascular, pulmonary or endocrine diseases, anaesthesia and weight of resected tissue. The postoperative morbidity was significantly higher in the alcohol group than in the controls (62% vs. 20%). Follow-up at 1, 3 and 12 months revealed significantly more complications among the alcoholics and also more frequent requirement of supplementary procedures than in the controls.

Twenty-four patients with malignant pelvic mass had diverting ureterocutaneostomy. Four patients (17%) developed necrosis and one (4%) required surgical correction due to stenosis. The remaining patients had a well-functioning ureterocutaneostomy until the death which occurred median 174 days later. We find that good palliation can be achieved using this simple operation, and therefore recommend it as the urinary diverting procedure to patients with obstructing pelvic malignancy.

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