title: Calcium score: a new risk factor for colorectal anastomotic leakage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anastomotic leakage (AL) is the most feared complication of colorectal surgery. Atherosclerosis is suggested to have a detrimental effect on anastomotic healing. This study aimed to analyze the calcium score, a measure for atherosclerosis, as a risk factor for AL.
  
  
  METHODS
  The calcium scores of colorectal patients operated on in 2 Dutch university medical centers were determined using a computed tomography scan and calcium scoring software. The aorta, common iliac arteries, internal and external iliac arteries were studied. Additionally, patient- and operation-related factors were scored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 122 patients were included. In patients with AL, calcium scores were significantly higher in the left common iliac artery (561.4 vs 156.0, P = .028), right common iliac artery (542.0 vs 144.4, P = .041), both common iliac arteries together (1,103.3 vs 301.9, P = .046), and the left internal iliac artery (716.3 vs 35.3, P = .044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with higher calcium scores in the iliacal arteries have an increased leakage risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands. nielskomen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komen
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klitsie
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dijk
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slieker
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Havenga
authors.forename: Matthijs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weyler
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kleinrensink
authors.forename: Johan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium