title: [Incidence of, risk factors for, and prevention of intestinal leakage].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal anastomotic leakage represents a major complication in visceral surgery with relevant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a literature -search in Medline / PubMed the available data are presented, critically reviewed and summarised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beside optimisation of surgical technique, patient-dependent risk factors - such as relevant comorbidity, certain medications or previous radiochemotherapy - play a major role in the development of anastomotic leak-age. The effort for optimisation of these patient-dependent risk factors is not incorporated within the compensation scheme in German hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum, Ulm, Deutschland. sekretariat.chirurgie@uniklinikulm.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henne-Bruns
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery