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Risk Factors and Clinical Outcome for Anastomotic Leakage After Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer

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Abstract

Background

Anastomosis leakage is a major complication of rectal surgery. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection (LAR) in rectal cancer patients and study its impact on long-term prognosis and disease-free survival and overall survival in rectal cancer patients.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent rectal resection with primary anastomosis below the pelvic peritoneal reflexion for rectal cancer between October 1996 to February 2006 were included.

Results

Anastomosis leakage after LAR occurred in 51 patients (4.0%). The median time to leakage was 4 days (range = 2–30 days). In univariate analysis, gender, level of anastomosis less than 4 cm, preoperative concomitant chemoradiation (CCRT), and length of operation greater than 120 min were significantly associated with anastomosis leakage. In a multivariate analysis, gender (p = 0.041; relative risk = 2.007; 95% CI = 1.030–3.912) and preoperative CCRT (p = 0.003; relative risk = 2.861; 95% CI = 1.417–5.778) were identified as independent prognostic factors. The overall survival of the nonleakage group and the leakage group was 80.2% and 64.9%, respectively (p = 0.170). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were not significantly different between the nonleakage and leakage groups (78.1% vs. 65.9%, p = 0.166).

Conclusions

The incidence of anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection is relatively low. Male gender and preoperative CCRT were associated with increased risk for anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery. No effect of anastomosis leakage on local recurrence was found in this series.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Korea

    Won-Suk Lee, Seong Hyeon Yun, Young-Nam Roh, Hae-Ran Yun, Woo Yong Lee, Yong Beom Cho & Ho-Kyung Chun

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  1. Won-Suk Lee
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  2. Seong Hyeon Yun
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  3. Young-Nam Roh
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  4. Hae-Ran Yun
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  5. Woo Yong Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ho-Kyung Chun.

Additional information

Seong Hyeon Yun and Won-Suk Lee contributed equally to this work.

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Lee, WS., Yun, S.H., Roh, YN. et al. Risk Factors and Clinical Outcome for Anastomotic Leakage After Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer. World J Surg 32, 1124–1129 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9451-2

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