•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Internal Medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with intestinal anastomotic leakage (AL) to generate hypothesis for further investigation to practically assist in surgical decision making and reduction of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Background AL is a frequent complication of intestinal surgery and has been associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. Patients and methods The study included 51 patients who presented to the Emergency Department at Menoufia University Hospital in the period between March and September 2017 requiring small bowel resection and reconstruction as an emergency procedure after illustrating the study to them and taking their consent to participate. Overall complication and leak rates were compared using Fisher's exact test. Individual case review by a group of peers was performed for patients with a leak who died to determine the relationship with mortality. Results A total of 51 emergency patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent resection with anastomosis during the study period. There were 13/51 (25.4%) patients with leaks, four of whom died. In bivariate analysis, factors that were associated with AL were advancing age, hypoalbuminemia 12/13 (92.3%), intraoperative hypovolemia 8/13 (61.5%), intraoperative hypotension, diffuse peritonitis, and low hemoglobin concentration. Mortality was significantly increased in patients with AL, as four (4/51, 7.843%) cases died; three (3/13, 23.07%) of them had AL. Conclusion Multiple factors should be taken into consideration before and during emergency small bowel resection anastomosis surgery to comprehensively assess the risk for AL and reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Download

Share

COinS