Severe leg ischaemia caused by anterior resection of the rectum

A 45-year-old man developed severe leg ischaemia following anterior resection for rectal carcinoma. A previously unrecognized infrarenal aortic occlusion was also present. Division of important collateral arterial pathways during the anterior resection was the cause of ischaemia which contributed to the patient's death. Patients having rectal or colonic resection should be carefully assessed for aortoiliac occlusive disease. Extra-anatomical arterial reconstruction before the bowel resection would avoid this complication.