DIFFERENCE IN PREDICTORS OF ANASTOMOTIC LEAKAGE DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ANASTOMOSIS AFTER COLORECTAL CANCER SURGERY.

Anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal cancer surgery is one of the most serious postoperative complications which has major impact on outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for AL, as well as to examine whether there are differences in risk factors for AL depending on the primary tumor location. We retrospectively reviewed records of patients having undergone colorectal surgical procedures for malignancies between January 2013 and December 2017 in a single institution. Only procedures with primary anastomosis were included. Of the 153 patients, AL occurred in 10.6% of patients with primary tumor in the sigmoid colon and rectum, and in 8.2% of patients with primary tumor in the proximal sections of the colon. On univariate analysis, delayed oral intake and more advanced histologic stages of the tumor were significantly correlated with AL in patients with tumors in the sigmoid colon and rectum, and multiorgan resection and distant metastases in patients with tumors in the proximal sections of the colon. In conclusion, risk factors for the occurrence of AL vary depending on the primary tumor location and further investigation is needed to provide better insight into these differences.