Objective: To identify the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage following an anterior resection for rectal cancer.
Methods: Between June, 1999 and June, 2009, 628 patients underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer. A retrospective study of the cases was performed to identify the risk factors for anastomotic leakage following the resection.
Results: The overall incidence rate of anatomic leak was 8.6% (54/628) in these patients. A low albumin level (less than 35 g/L), diabetes, absence of a protective stoma, a distance less than 7 cm from the tumor to the anal edge, and a tumor diameter over 5 cm were identified as the risk factors for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection.
Conclusion: For patients at a high risk for anastomotic leakage, a protective stoma can significantly decrease the rate of clinical leaks and subsequent reoperation after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.