Risk factors for anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer surgery. A retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE Anastomotic leakage after restorative surgery for rectal cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Several factors have been identified as risk factors for anastomotic leakage. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined cases of anastomotic leakage in rectal surgery and tried to ascertain the risk factors. METHODS A review of 583 patients who underwent rectal resection with a double-stapling colorectal anastomosis between January 2007 and January 2022 was performed. Clinical, demographic and operative features, intraoperative outcomes and oncological characteristics were evaluated to identify risk factors for anastomotic leakage. RESULTS The overall incidence of anastomotic leakage was 10.4%, with a mean time interval of 6.2 +/-2.1 days. Overall mortality was 0.8%. Mortality was higher in patients with anastomotic leakage (4.9%) than in patients without leak (0.4%, P =0.009). Poor bowel preparation, blood transfusion, median age, prognostic nutritional index