OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of anastomotic leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses. DESIGN: Cohort analysis. SETTING: Subspecialty practice at a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS: Consecutive subjects were selected from a prospective colorectal database of 2627 patients treated between January l, 2001, and December 31, 2007. INTERVENTION: Creation of left-sided colorectal anastomoses and air leak testing per surgeon preference. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Anastomosis type, method (handsewn vs stapled), performance of air leak testing, repair method of anastomoses after air leak tests yielding positive results, and development of postoperative clinical leak. RESULTS: A total of 998 left-sided colorectal anastomoses were performed without proximal diversion; 90.1% were stapled and 9.9% were handsewn. Intraoperative air leaks were noted in 65 of 825 tested anastomoses (7.9%), that is, 7.8% of stapled anastomoses and 9.5% of handsewn anastomoses. A clinical leak developed in 48 patients (4.8%). Clinical leaks were noted in 7.7% of anastomoses with positive air leak test results compared with 3.8% of anastomoses with negative air leak test results and 8.1% of all untested anastomoses (P < .03). If air leak testing yielded positive results, suture repair alone was associated with the highest rate of postoperative clinical leak compared with diversion or reanastomosis, 12.2% vs 0% vs 0%, respectively (P = .19). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate a high rate of air leaks at air leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses. In addition, the high rate of clinical leaks in untested anastomoses leads us to recommend air leak testing of all left-sided anastomoses, whether stapled or handsewn.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of anastomotic leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses. DESIGN: Cohort analysis. SETTING: Subspecialty practice at a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS: Consecutive subjects were selected from a prospective colorectal database of 2627 patients treated between January l, 2001, and December 31, 2007. INTERVENTION: Creation of left-sided colorectal anastomoses and air leak testing per surgeon preference. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Anastomosis type, method (handsewn vs stapled), performance of air leak testing, repair method of anastomoses after air leak tests yielding positive results, and development of postoperative clinical leak. RESULTS: A total of 998 left-sided colorectal anastomoses were performed without proximal diversion; 90.1% were stapled and 9.9% were handsewn. Intraoperative air leaks were noted in 65 of 825 tested anastomoses (7.9%), that is, 7.8% of stapled anastomoses and 9.5% of handsewn anastomoses. A clinical leak developed in 48 patients (4.8%). Clinical leaks were noted in 7.7% of anastomoses with positive air leak test results compared with 3.8% of anastomoses with negative air leak test results and 8.1% of all untested anastomoses (P < .03). If air leak testing yielded positive results, suture repair alone was associated with the highest rate of postoperative clinical leak compared with diversion or reanastomosis, 12.2% vs 0% vs 0%, respectively (P = .19). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate a high rate of air leaks at air leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses. In addition, the high rate of clinical leaks in untested anastomoses leads us to recommend air leak testing of all left-sided anastomoses, whether stapled or handsewn.
Authors: Hemanga K Bhattacharjee; Gerhard F Buess; Francisco Cesar Becerra Garcia; Pirmin Storz; Mousumi Sharma; Sidonia Susanu; Andreas Kirschniak; Mahesh C Misra Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2010-12-07 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Seung Yoon Yang; Jeonghee Han; Yoon Dae Han; Min Soo Cho; Hyuk Hur; Kang Young Lee; Nam Kyu Kim; Byung Soh Min Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2017-01-31 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Jennifer Leahy; David Schoetz; Peter Marcello; Thomas Read; Jason Hall; Patricia Roberts; Rocco Ricciardi Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2014-07-15 Impact factor: 3.452