[Prevention of colorectal anastomotic leakage in patients with rectal cancer]

To develop a technique of anastomosis sutures protection using the Foley catheter in rectal cancer surgery.

There were 42 patients with rectal cancer T1-3N0-2M0 (the 7^th TNM edition) who underwent radical sphincter-sparing surgery with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for the period from November 2016 to June 2018. All procedures were performed at the Regional Clinical Oncology Center. All operations were completed with formation of colorectal anastomosis in 'end-to-side' fashion. Patients were divided into 2 groups (main and control) depending on used technique. In the main group (n=20), Foley catheter #30 in accordance with original method was used to protect the anastomosis. Preventive colostomy was applied in 15 patients. The control group consisted of 22 patients. None of these patients underwent prevention of anastomosis leakage. Preventive colostomy was performed in 14 patients.

There were no early postoperative complications in the main group. The catheter was removed after 7-9 days. In the control group, 5 patients had symptoms of anastomotic leakage (22.5%; p<0.05). Medication was effective in 4 cases. Re-laparotomy were required in 1 patient.

Thus, anastomosis sutures protection using the Foley catheter is quite reliable and technically simple procedure with favorable outcomes.