Anastomotic leakage after resection of colorectal cancer generates prodigious use of hospital resources

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the demand for hospital resources generated by anastomotic leakage, including surgical, medical, imaging, pathology, and other allied health consultations or services and length of postoperative hospital stay. Method Data were obtained from a comprehensive, prospective hospital registry of all resections for colorectal cancer from January 1995 to December 2004 and from retrospective review of patients' notes. Results Forty-one patients with a leak spent 92 days in intensive care, required 129 days of total parenteral nutrition, 69 days of enteric feeding and 41 days on ventilation and had a median postoperative hospital stay of 28 days (range 11-104). These patients required 24 re-operations and 2273 separate medical consultations or allied services. Conclusion Anastomotic leakage generates a very considerable demand for hospital resources and diverts these resources from the hospital population at large.