Systematic review of anastomotic leakage rate according to an international grading system following anterior resection for rectal cancer

Circular anastomotic experimental fibrin sealant protection in deep colorectal anastomosis in pigs in a randomized 9-day survival study

PURPOSE

The reported rate of clinically apparent anastomotic leakage (AL) in a low anterior resection of the rectum (LAR) (≤7 cm from the anal verge) using a circular double-stapled anastomosis (CDSA) without defunctioning stoma is up to 37.5 %. Since AL may result in life-threatening peritonitis, sepsis, and multiple organ failure, LAR and CDSA are regularly combined with defunctioning stoma. Accordingly, we now evaluated whether LAR and CDSA without defunctioning stoma but with extraluminal anastomotic application of an experimental fibrin sealant reduce the AL rate. This might prevent humans from defunctioning stoma increasing quality of life and decreasing surgical costs.

METHODS

Forty 8-week-old pigs underwent LAR and CDSA in an end-to-end technique (descendo-rectostomy). Animals were randomized into a therapy and control group (gr.). The therapy gr. (n = 20) received an additional extraluminal circular application of an experimental fibrin sealant to the anastomosis. The objective was to assess the incidence of clinically apparent and non-clinically apparent leakage through the ninth postoperative day. Double-contrast barium CT radiographs of the colorectal region were performed on the ninth postoperative day or earlier, in case there were clinical signs of AL. All remaining animals were sacrificed on the ninth postoperative day and the anastomotic region was histopathologically analyzed. In case of earlier diagnosed AL, animals were sacrificed immediately. Blood samples were taken for complete blood count, chemistry, and coagulation profile prior to surgery and on the first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth postoperative day.

RESULTS

A circular extraluminal anastomotic application of an experimental fibrin protection decreased the rate of clinically and non-clinically apparent AL from 20 % (n = 4) in the control group to 5 % (n = 1) in the treatment group. Ulcerations were also observed in both gr. (control gr.-5 animals, therapy gr. -3 animals). All animals with AL showed necrosis surrounding the hole at the anastomoses. Three additional animals had a full wall defect at the anastomotic region that was blocked by the experimental fibrin sealant. The fibrin sealant was present at necropsy in all treated animals.

CONCLUSION

Circular anastomotic protection with the experimental fibrin sealant blocked anastomotic full wall defects, preventing peritonitis and significantly reducing the AL rate from 25 to 5 %.

Multicenter Analysis of Long-Term Oncologic Impact of Anastomotic Leakage After Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision: The Korean Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Study Group

This study aims to validate the oncologic outcomes of anastomotic leakage (AL) after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) in a large multicenter cohort. The impact of AL after laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer surgery has not yet been clearly described. This was a multicenter retrospective study of 1083 patients who underwent laparoscopic TME for nonmetastatic rectal cancer (stage 0-III). AL was defined as an anastomotic complication within 30 days of surgery irrespective of requiring a reoperation or interventional radiology. Estimated local recurrence (LR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the leakage group and the no leakage group using the log-rank method. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis was used to adjust confounding for survival. The incidence of AL was 6.4%. Mortality within 30 days of surgery occurred in 1 patient (1.4%) in the leakage group and 2 patients (0.2%) in the no leakage group. The leakage group showed a higher LR rate (6.4% vs 1.8%, P = 0.011). Five-year DFS and OS were significantly lower in the leakage group than the no leakage group (DFS 71.7% vs 82.1%, P = 0.016, OS 81.8% vs 93.5%, P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that AL was an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS and OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.6; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.0-2.6; P = 0.042, HR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.2; P = 0.028, respectively). AL after laparoscopic TME was significantly associated with an increased rate of LR, systemic recurrence and poor OS.

Anastomotic reinforcement with omentoplasty following gastrointestinal anastomosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Anastomotic leak is a potentially devastating complication following gastrointestinal anastomosis. Some surgeons believe that reinforcing the anastomosis with omentum reduces the incidence and severity of anastomotic leak. A comprehensive electronic search of EMBASE, Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane databases was performed. Pooled odds ratios (POR) were calculated for discrete variables. There were six studies investigating esophageal anastomosis and 3 studies investigating colorectal anastomosis identified by the literature search. A total of 2296 patients were included, 1073 with omentoplasty and 1223 without. In esophageal surgery omentoplasty significantly reduced the rate of anastomotic leak (2.9% vs 10.5% (POR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.17 to 0.47; P < 0.0001), but there was no significant effect upon in-hospital mortality (2.3% vs. 2.5%; POR = 0.911 [95% CI 0.439-1.887]; P = 0.802) or anastomotic stricture between the two groups (6.6% vs 9.1%; POR = 0.842 [95% CI 0.331 to 2.145]; P = 0.720). In colorectal surgery there was no significant difference in anastomotic leak rate (5.0% vs 8.4%; POR: 0.50; 95% CI 0.21 to 1.17) or in-hospital mortality (4.2% vs 4.1%; POR: 0.90; 95% CI 0.34 to 2.41). The results of this analysis show that omentoplasty significantly reduced the rate of anastomotic leak following esophageal anastomosis but these results were not observed in colorectal anastomosis. Omentoplasty could be used as an adjunct technique to reduce the incidence of anastomotic leak in oesophageal anastomosis.

Efficacy of intracorporeal reinforcing sutures for anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of intracorporeal reinforcing sutures for preventing anastomotic leakage (AL) after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-institution study consisting of 201 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic proctectomy with double-stapling anastomosis for primary rectal cancer between August 2007 and December 2013. The data for patients who received intracorporeal reinforcing sutures were compared with those of patients who did not receive reinforcing sutures. Patient-, tumor- and surgery-related variables were collected and examined using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of AL was 9.0% (18/201). No significant correlations were observed between the various clinicopathological factors and the use of reinforcing sutures. The multivariate analyses revealed the distance of the tumor from the anal verge, tumor size and presence of reinforcing sutures to be independent risk factors for AL. We classified the patients into two risk groups using a combination of the tumor site and tumor size: a low-risk group (patients without any risk factors, n = 134) and a high-risk group (patients with one or two risk factors, n = 67). The frequency of AL was significantly lower (p < 0.02) in the patients treated with reinforcing sutures than in those treated without reinforcing sutures in the high-risk group. However, no significant differences were observed in the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of intracorporeal reinforcing sutures may reduce the incidence of AL. A prospective randomized trial is required to evaluate the effects of reinforcing sutures in preventing AL.

Obtaining secure stapling of a double stapling anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication after rectal surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of waiting time during firing of stapling devices on optimal staple formation.

METHODS

An endoscopic linear stapler (Echelon Flex 60 Endopath) with either a 60 mm blue or gold cartridge was applied to the cardiac and pyloric portions of 27 fresh porcine stomachs. Three different waiting times were used for the precompression and interstroke periods (0/0, 2/0, and 2/2 min). The staple line was divided into four portions (oral, anal and top, base), and the shape of each staple was evaluated. Optimal staple formation was also assessed using the circular stapler (CDH 29).

RESULTS

Mean thickness of the cardiac and pyloric portions was 2.4 ± 0.35 mm and 4.0 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. The waiting time improved optimal staple formation for the blue cartridge, especially when it was used for the pyloric portion. Staple malformation was observed more commonly in the top portion than in the base portion; however, the former was improved by an interstroke waiting time. Staple formation using the circular stapler was satisfactory and not influenced by the prefiring waiting time or tissue thickness.

CONCLUSIONS

Employment of a waiting time improves optimal staple formation when the endoscopic linear stapler is used for challenging tissue.