Clinical Relevance of a Grading System for Anastomotic Leakage After Low Anterior Resection: Analysis From a National Cohort Database.

Abstract

Anastomotic leakage is a severe complication after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. With a global increase in registration initiatives, adapting uniform definitions and grading systems is highly relevant. This study aimed to provide clinical parameters to categorize anastomotic leakage into subcategories according to the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer. All of the patients who underwent a low anterior resection in the Netherlands with primary anastomosis were included using the population-based Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit. Data were derived from the Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit. The development of grade B anastomotic leakage (requiring invasive treatment but no surgery) versus grade C anastomotic leakage (requiring reoperation) was measured. Overall, 4287 patients underwent low anterior resection with primary anastomosis. A total of 159 patients (4%) were diagnosed with grade B anastomotic leakage versus 259 (6%) with grade C. Hospital stay and intensive care unit visits were significantly higher in patients with grade C anastomotic leakage compared with patients with grade B leakage. Mortality in patients with grade C leakage was higher compared with grade B leakage, although nonsignificant (5.8% vs 2.5%; p = 0.12). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with diverting stomas (n = 2866) had a decreased risk of developing grade C leakage compared with grade B (OR = 0.17 (95% CI, 0.10-0.29)). Male patients had an increased risk of developing grade C anastomotic leakage, and patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment before surgery had an increased risk of developing grade B anastomotic leakage. Some possibly relevant variables, such as smoking and nutritional status, were not recorded in the database. Anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer was a frequent observed complication in this cohort. Differences in clinical outcome suggest that grade B and C leakage should be considered separate entities in future registrations. In patients with a diverting stoma, the chances of experiencing grade C anastomotic leakage were reduced. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A315.