Surgery for Benign Polyps Often Causes Unnecessary Harm

Surgical treatment of complex benign colonic polyps significantly increases the risk of adverse events compared to endoscopy. An analysis of 240 patients revealed surgeries were linked to a higher likelihood of complications (odds ratio 3.27), severe adverse events (OR 7.5), and reinterventions (OR 25.6). Average hospital stays extended to 10 days for surgical patients, while endoscopic patients had no stay. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved referral pathways to prioritize less invasive treatments.