title: Anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery: are 75 % preventable?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anastomotic leak (AL) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality associated with complications of colorectal surgery. Furthermore, AL results in prolonged hospital stays and significant increase in costs of medical resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we investigated the impact of anastomosis technique on the rate of anastomotic leak. The rate of leak was compared between two groups performing end-to-end (E-E) vs. side-to-end (S-E) anastomosis. The impact of various risk factors was also compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 382 E-E and 363 S-E anastomoses after left colectomy or rectal resections. The anastomotic leak rate was 8.64 % using E-E compared to 1.93 % using S-E anastomosis technique (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the rate of anastomotic leak after left colon and rectum resections could be significantly reduced utilizing S-E anastomosis technique.
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany. hodjat.shekarriz@helios-kliniken.de.
authors: Hodjat
authors: H
authors: Shekarriz
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany.
authors: Janina
authors: J
authors: Eigenwald
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany. shekarrb@verizon.net.
authors: Bijan
authors: B
authors: Shekarriz
authors: Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 601 Children Lane, Norfolk, VA, 23510, USA.
authors: Jyoti
authors: J
authors: Upadhyay
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany.
authors: Jasmin
authors: J
authors: Shekarriz
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany.
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Zoubie
authors: Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts Universität Kiel (CAU), Otto-Hahn-Platz 8, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
authors: Thilo
authors: T
authors: Wedel
authors: Department of Surgery, Helios Klinikum Schleswig, Lutherstr 22, 24837, Schleswig, Germany.
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Wittenburg
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000209:etiology*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017792:Surgical Stapling
keywords: Anastomosis technique; Anastomotic leak; Colorectal surgery; End-to-end anastomosis; Side-to-end anastomosis