Predictive factors for anastomotic leakage after colon cancer surgery

Introduction: in colon cancer surgery, anastomotic fistula (AF) is considered the most feared complication. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors associated with anastomotic fistula after colon cancer surgical resection and to describe the impact of this complication on mortality and postoperative length of stay. Methods: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study in the Department of General Surgery at the Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia from 1st January 2013 to 31 December 2020. Results: we collected data from the medical records of 163 patients who had undergone surgery for colon cancer. The average age of patients was 62.7 years with a sex ratio of 1.36. The postoperative course was uneventful in 64.4% of cases and complicated in 35.6% of cases. Surgical morbidity was mainly due to anastomotic fistulas (22 patients). This study demonstrated that predictors of the development of this complication were: diabetes p = 0.04, smoking p = 0.01, hypoalbuminaemia p = 0.01, preoperative haemoglobin less than 10g/dl, p < 0.01, anastomotic fistula located in the left colonic angle p = 0.02, perioperative transfusion p <0.01, and duration of surgery longer than 180 min p = 0.04. Moreover, the occurrence of anastomotic fistula was associated with specific mortality rate (9%) and significantly prolonged postoperative length of stay. Conclusion: the prevention of anastomotic fistulas should be part of a multimodal approach based on the correction of nutritional deficiencies and possible pre-operative anemia.

Automated summary

This study aims to identify predictive factors associated with anastomotic fistula after colon cancer surgical resection and describe the impact of this complication on mortality and postoperative length of stay. The results showed that diabetes, smoking, hypoalbuminemia, preoperative anemia, location of anastomotic fistula, perioperative transfusion, and longer duration of surgery were predictors of the development of this complication.