Benign GI diease,Benign diesease & IBD,Complication,Biomarker & risk factor
- A development study of drain fluid gastrografin as a biomarker of anastomotic leak
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David A. Clark, Edward Yeoh, Aleksandra Edmundson, Craig Harris, Andrew Stevenson, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
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Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(2):124-132. Published online January 11, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.12.24
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5
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Abstract
PDF
- Purpose
Anastomotic leakage (AL) is the anathema of colorectal surgery. Its occurrence leads to increased morbidity and mortality and a prolonged hospital stay. Much work has gone into studying various biomarkers in drain fluid to facilitate early detection of AL. This stage 2a development study aims to assess the safety and feasibility of reliably detecting the iodine in Gastrografin (GG; Bayer Australia Ltd.) in drain fluid and stool samples by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT).
Methods
This is a prospective, observational, controlled, consecutive cohort study establishing the safety and feasibility of the detection of GG in surgical drain fluid and stool as a biomarker of AL when patients with a low pelvic colorectal anastomosis undergo luminal flushing of the rectal tube with GG.
Results
Ten consecutive patients were allocated to the saline flush group and the following 10 to the GG flush group. Three patients in the saline flush group developed an AL. One patient in the GG flush group developed an AL. An elevation in the drain fluid GG was detected using DECT on the day of clinical deterioration. None of the patients in the control group were found to have a positive result on DECT.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the safety of a novel approach to the early detection of AL from extraperitoneal colorectal anastomoses. The technique requires validation in a larger cohort and a multicenter study is planned to investigate the efficacy of GG rectal tube flushes as an early biomarker of AL in low pelvic anastomoses.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Drain fluid iodine as a biomarker of anastomotic leak after low anterior resection in patients undergoing Gastrografin rectal tube flushes and omission of a diverting ileostomy: The GUSH study
David A. Clark, Karen Dobeli, Darren Allen, Brett McWhinney, Michael Lonne, Aleksandra Edmundson
Colorectal Disease.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Impact of Postoperative Naples Prognostic Score to Predict Survival in Patients with Stage II–III Colorectal Cancer
Su Hyeong Park, Hye Seung Woo, In Kyung Hong, Eun Jung Park
Cancers.2023; 15(20): 5098. CrossRef - Successful colorectal anastomotic leakage management: a two oncological centres' 12-year experience
Kiril G. KIROV, Tsvetomir M. IVANOV, Nadya S. IVANOVA
Chirurgia.2022;[Epub] CrossRef - Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy determines the prognostic impact of anastomotic leakage in advanced rectal cancer
Bo Young Oh, Yoon Ah Park, Jung Wook Huh, Yong Beom Cho, Seong Hyeon Yun, Hee Cheol Kim, Woo Yong Lee
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research.2022; 103(4): 235. CrossRef - Does an ileostomy cover the surgeon or the anastomosis?
David A. Clark, Andrew Stevenson, John Lumley, Damien Petersen, Craig Harris, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2022; 92(1-2): 19. CrossRef
Benign GI diease,Benign diesease & IBD,Rare disease & stoma
- Geographical Variation in the Use of Diverting Loop Ileostomy in Australia and New Zealand Colorectal Surgeons
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David A. Clark, Bree Stephensen, Aleksandra Edmundson, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
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Ann Coloproctol. 2021;37(5):337-345. Published online September 18, 2020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.09.14.1
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4,483
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71
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8
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9
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Abstract
PDF
- Purpose
Anastomotic leak (AL) after a low pelvic anastomosis is a devastating complication, with short- and long-term morbidity and increased mortality. Surgeons may employ various adjuncts in an attempt to reduce AL rates or mitigate their impact. These include the use of temporary diverting ileostomy (TDI), transanal or rectal tubes and pelvic drains. This questionnaire evaluates the preferences and routine use of these adjuncts in Australasian colorectal surgeons.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was administered to Australian and New Zealand colorectal surgeons on September 20, 2018. The study survey consisted of 15 questions exploring basic demographics and the number of rectal resections and ileal pouches performed in 12 months, along with the surgeon’s preference for the use of diverting stomas, rectal tubes, and pelvic drains.
Results
There were 90 respondents to the survey (31.6%). Surgeons in Western Australia (71.4%) were more likely to use a mandatory TDI in colorectal extraperitoneal anastomoses than surgeons in Queensland (14.3%). South Australian surgeons are more likely to employ a mandatory TDI (100%) for ileal pouches than Queensland surgeons (42.9%). Rectal tubes are not commonly utilized (40.0% never use them), and pelvic drains are (45.6% in all cases). Surgeons consider a median AL rate of 15% was felt to justify the use of a TDI in low pelvic anastomoses and a median AL rate of 10% for ileal pouches
Conclusion
There is considerable geographical variation in colorectal surgical practice throughout Australia and New Zealand. While surgeons interrogate the same literature, there are presumably other factors that see translation into variations in clinical practice.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Predictors of pouch failure and quality of life following ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a retrospective multicenter study
Ahmet Rencuzogullari, Cihangir Akyol, Ismail Hamzaoglu, Tahsin Colak, Tayfun Karahasanoglu, Ugur Sungurtekin, Sezai Leventoglu, Ersin Ozturk, Mustafa Ali Korkut, Selman Sokmen
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2025; 95(3): 457. CrossRef - Drain fluid iodine as a biomarker of anastomotic leak after low anterior resection in patients undergoing Gastrografin rectal tube flushes and omission of a diverting ileostomy: The GUSH study
David A. Clark, Karen Dobeli, Darren Allen, Brett McWhinney, Michael Lonne, Aleksandra Edmundson
Colorectal Disease.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Feasibility of triple assessment of the anastomosis using an anastomotic checklist
Madeleine Louise Kelly, Amy Cao, Ruben Rajan, David A Clark
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2024; 94(10): 1812. CrossRef - Drain fluid amylase as a biomarker for the detection of anastomotic leakage after rectal resection without a diverting ileostomy
David A. Clark, Aleksandra Edmundson, Daniel Steffens, Craig Harris, Andrew Stevenson, Michael Solomon
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2022; 92(4): 813. CrossRef - Surgical management and long‐term functional outcomes after anastomotic leak in patients undergoing minimally invasive restorative rectal resection and without a diverting ileostomy
Tony McGiffin, David A. Clark, Aleks Edmundson, Daniel Steffens, Andrew Stevenson, Michael Solomon
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2022; 92(4): 806. CrossRef - Does an ileostomy cover the surgeon or the anastomosis?
David A. Clark, Andrew Stevenson, John Lumley, Damien Petersen, Craig Harris, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2022; 92(1-2): 19. CrossRef - Risk taking propensity: Nurse, surgeon and patient preferences for diverting ileostomy
Ian Mackay, David A. Clark, James Nicholson, Aleks Edmundson, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
Colorectal Disease.2022; 24(9): 1073. CrossRef - Multicenter Study of Drain Fluid Amylase as a Biomarker for the Detection of Anastomotic Leakage After Ileal Pouch Surgery Without a Diverting Ileostomy
David A. Clark, • Aleksandra Edmundson, Daniel Steffens, Graham Radford-Smith, Michael Solomon
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.2022; 65(11): 1335. CrossRef - An umbrella systematic review of drain fluid analysis in colorectal surgery for the detection of anastomotic leak: Not yet ready to translate research studies into clinical practice
David A. Clark, Daniel Steffens, Michael Solomon
Colorectal Disease.2021; 23(11): 2795. CrossRef