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Original Article
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J Korean Soc Coloproctol. 2006;22(6):371-379.
- Risk Factors and Oncologic Impact of Anastomotic Leakage after Rectal Cancer Surgery.
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Jung, Sang Hun , Yu, Chang Sik , Choi, Pyong Wha , Kim, Dae Dong , Hong, Dong Hyun , Kim, Hee Cheol , Kim, Jin Cheon
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1Colorectal Clinic, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. csyu@amc.seoul.kr
- Abstract
- PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious and life-threatening complication following rectal cancer surgery. The impact on long-term oncologic outcome in patients with AL is not clear. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the risk factors of AL and its impact on long-term prognosis after rectal cancer surgery.
METHODS
We investigated 1,391 patients who underwent primary resection and anastomosis for rectal cancer between January 1997 and August 2003. Operations were performed as follows: AR (n=164), LAR (n=898), uLAR (n=329). Standard procedures in our clinic were mesorectal excision according to tumor location and autonomic nerve preservation. Median follow-up period was 40.1 months (2~96 months).
RESULTS
AL rate was 2.5% (n=35). Gender (male), age (>60 years) and uLAR were independent risk factors in multivariate analysis (HR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.18~7.22; HR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.12~7.83; HR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.08~7.09, respectively). Local recurrence in the AL group was significantly higher than that in the non-AL group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in multivariate analysis (P=0.14). Systemic recurrence between both groups was not statistically different. The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly lower in the AL group than in the non-AL group (55.1% vs 74.1%, P<0.05) and the cancer- specific survival rate was lower in the AL group than in the non-AL group (63.0% vs 78.3%, P=0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Age, gender, and anastomotic level were risk factors for AL after rectal cancer surgery and anastomotic leakage was associated with a poor survival.
Keywords :Anastomotic leakage;Rectal cancer surgery;Risk factor;Survival rate
