[The dehiscence of colorectal anastomoses: the risk factors]

To evaluate the results of emergency and elective colorectal resective surgery; to identify general and local factors that influence the anastomotic leak rate.

200 selected consecutive patients (115 males and 85 females, medium age 50.6 years, range 16-87) underwent resective colorectal surgery between 1990 to 1997. 154 (77.0%) were operated in elective surgery and 46 (23.0%) in urgency, for carcinoma, diverticular disease, mesenteric infarction, chronic intestinal disease, dolicosigma, anastomotic leakage, familiar polyposis or lesions by firearm. The operations consisted in 58 right colectomy, 28 left colectomy, 6 resection of the transverse and 29 of the sigmoid colon, 40 anterior resection, 12 total colectomy, 19 closing of colostomy, 6 by-passes. Anastomoses were performed in 88 cases by manual and in 110 by mechanical sutures.

We observed 12 (6%) anastomotic leakages. Mortality rate was 1.0%. 13%.0 of these patients were underwent before to emergency and 3.9% to elective surgery; 5.7% by manual and 6.4% by mechanical suture. Diagnosis of leakage was made by clinical features, blood vessel examinations and abdominal TC scan.

The risk factors of anastomotic leakage are general or local. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, perioperative transfusion, level of serum albumin, use of corticosteroid in the first group and sepsis, bowel obstruction, anastomotic level and tension and poor blood supply in the second, appear the most important causative factors in the development of anastomotic leaks.

The incidence of dehiscence in colo-rectal surgery was seen significatively lower when anastomoses were performed in ideal circumstances than in the presence of one or more unfavorable factors. Healing remains a process depending more on the patient than on any aspect of the surgical technique.