SAN FRANCISCO– A large retrospective study identified risk factors for anastomotic leak within 30 days of colectomy.
The analysis of data on 13,684 patients looked at a multicenter cohort, compared with previous smaller studies that generally focused on single institutions, Dr. Emily F. Midura and her associates reported at the annual clinical congress of the American College of Surgeons.
In a video interview at the meeting, Dr. Midura described the risk factors identified in the study.
The 4% of patients who developed a leak averaged 13 days in the hospital, compared with 8 days for patients with no leak, said Dr. Midura of the University of Cincinnati. A total of 6% of patients who developed an anastomotic leak died, compared with a 2% mortality rate in patients without a leak.
Indications for colectomy included cancer in 42% of patients, diverticulitis in 23%, inflammatory bowel disease in 6%, and other reasons in the rest of the cohort.
Dr. Midura reported having no financial disclosures.
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