title: [Association of early diarrhea after the low anterior resection of rectal cancer and anastomotic leakage].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of early diarrhea(postoperative day 1 to 7) and anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 192 cases (group A, tumor from the anal verge 4-7 cm) from May 2004 to May 2007 and 236 cases(group B) from July 2007 to May 2010 in our hospital who received low anterior resection of rectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, the incidence of early postoperative diarrhea was 19.3%(37/192), of which 9 cases were treated with anti-diarrhea drugs. The morbidity of anastomotic leakage in patients with diarrhea was significantly higher than those without early diarrhea(16.2% vs. 5.2%, P<0.05). In group B, the incidence of early postoperative diarrhea was 16.5%(39/236). All the patients were treated with anti-diarrhea drugs. There was no difference in the morbidity of anastomotic leakage between patients with diarrhea and those without early diarrhea(16.2% vs. 5.2%, P<0.05). There was no difference in early diarrhea between groups A and B(P>0.05). However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients with early diarrhea was lower in group B(P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early diarrhea after the low anterior resection of rectal cancer may indicate anastomotic leakage. Treatment of early postoperative diarrhea may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang-sen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yong-chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-zhou
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ying-kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Gang-cheng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000209:etiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies