Does early and aggressive management improve outcomes in patients with anastomotic leaks following colorectal surgery?
Early aggressive management of anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery is associated with low mortality but high risk of permanent stoma if the anastomosis is taken down.
Although anastomotic leaks following colorectal surgery are associated with significant morbidity and stoma formation, early and aggressive management should result in a low overall mortality. If an anastomosis is taken down following an anastomotic leak after anterior resection, this will usually result in a 'permanent' stoma.
Khan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.