Morbidity risk factors after low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision and coloanal anastomosis: a retrospective series of 483 patients

Abstract

Objective: To report postoperative morbidity after low anterior resection (LAR) and coloanal anastomosis (CAA) for rectal cancer and identify possible risk factors of complications.

Background: Coloanal anastomosis after total mesorectal excision (TME) is associated with significant morbidity. Precise data on the specific morbidity and the risk factors are lacking.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 483 consecutive LARs with TME and CAA carried out in a single center between 1996 and 2005. All complications occurring up to 3 months after LAR and up to 3 months after closure of the diverting stoma were graded according to the Dindo classification.

Results: Of 483 patients, 164 (33.9%) suffered at least 1 complication, leading to death in 2 (0.4%) patients. Grade III/IV complications occurred in 69 of 483 (14.2%) patients. Thirty-four (7.0%) patients developed leakage of the CAA and 3 patients had leakage of the small bowel anastomosis after stoma closure. Ileostomy closure was carried out after a mean of 88.7 days (36-630) after LAR. The stoma was not closed in 4 of 456 (0.6%) patients. In multivariate analysis, male sex (P = 0.0216) and postoperative transfusion (P = 0.0025) were associated with complications. Medical complications were furthermore associated with previous thrombembolic events (P = 0.0012) and associated surgery at the time of LAR (P = 0.0010). Circumferential tumor localization was predictive of surgical complications (P = 0.0015). The only factor associated with a risk of leakage was transfusion (P = 0.0216).

Conclusions: In this series morbidity occurred in 34% and dehiscence of the CAA in 7.0%. Transfusion requirement was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications and anastomotic leakage.