Key result
Late anastomotic leakage requires relaparotomy ~51% less often than early leakage after colorectal resection.
Why the study?
There is little information on the incidence of late anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection despite reported rates of overall anastomotic leakage varying widely.
What is the incidence of late anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection?
Cohort (n=141)
No
What is the incidence of late anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection?
Absolute Event Rate: 44% vs 89%
p-value: p=0.02
One-third of all anastomotic leakages after colorectal surgery occur late (>30 days), highlighting the need for extended vigilance.
Retrospective LAL incidence data warrant clinical caution; leaves open true rates and risk factors for prospective study.
AIM: Reported incidence rates of colorectal anastomotic leakage (AL) vary between 2.5 and 20%. There is little information on late anastomotic leakage (LAL). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of LAL after colorectal resection. METHOD: All patients undergoing colorectal resection with primary anastomosis between January 2004 and October 2009 at the University Medical Center Groningen were included. LAL was defined as anastomotic leakage diagnosed more than 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one patients were analysed. Indications for surgery included both benign and malignant conditions. The incidence of early anastomotic leakage (EAL) within 30 days after surgery was 13%. The LAL rate was 6%. Eighty-nine per cent of patients with EAL underwent relaparotomy compared with 44% for LAL (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: One-third of all anastomotic leakages were diagnosed more than 30 days after surgery. Of these, 44% underwent relaparotomy. Patients with leakage diagnosed within 30 days after surgery were more likely to undergo relaparotomy. LAL is a significant problem after colorectal surgery.
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Morks et al. (2013) conducted a cohort in Colorectal resection (n=141). Late anastomotic leakage (>30 days) vs. Early anastomotic leakage (≤30 days) was evaluated on Relaparotomy (p=0.02). Late anastomotic leakage occurred in 6% of patients after colorectal resection and required relaparotomy less frequently than early leakage (44% vs 89%, P=0.02).
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