Late anastomotic leakages in rectal surgery: a wake-up call about their impact on long-term results

To assess the impact of the incidence of late anastomotic dehiscences, defined as those occurring after the 60^th post-operative day, in the final results of rectal cancer treatment.

A retrospective analysis was performed reviewing all anastomotic leakages (AL) recorded in a prospective rectal cancer database, from November 2006 to December 2015.

The analysis included 395 (71.5%) colo-rectal anastomosis performed in 552 patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery. Overall 32 (8.1%). AL were identified: 25 (78%) early and 7 (22%) late. Late AL compared to early AL were significantly associated with: higher ASA score (p = 0.021), higher CLS score (p = 0.005), lower rectal tumours (p = 0.014), neo-adjuvant radio-chemotherapy (p = 0.028), presence of ileostomy (p = 0.013), early hospital discharge (p = 0.048) and with the need for definitive stoma creation (p = 0.003).

Late AL can represent up to 22% of all AL; with significant long-term implications such as an increase of the requirement of definitive stoma or chronic pelvic sepsis. This findings could modify the long-term outcomes in rectal cancer published. In our experience, the late AL do not represent a distinct clinical process compared to early forms, with exception of the chronological criteria.