title: [Application of improved flushing method in anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate clinical effect of improved flushing method applied in anastomotic leakage (AL) aft er low anterior resection for rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study to analyze the therapeutic eff ect for 39 AL from 438 patients who received Dixon surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College. Among them, 23 patients received the traditional flushing method (the traditional group) and 16 received the improved flushing method (the improved group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Th e rate of AL was 8.9% (39/438). All patients were cured with non-operative treatment. Th e cleanliness degree of the surrounding skin of drainage tube in the improved group was higher than that in the traditional group. Th e duration of average hospitalization and extubation of drainage tube was shorter in the improved group than that in the traditional group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with the traditional methods, the improved one is better for the AL patients. Both the patients themselves or their family members can chose it. The improved flushing method is worth to be spread in clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou Sichuan 646000, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Chunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yejiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies