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Session:: ePosters-Sun1230-M7: Benign Abdominal

EP424 - Colon Anastomotic Leak rate: A single center, single surgeon analysis

Sunday, May 10, 2026
12:51 PM - 12:56 PM ET

    ePoster Presenter(s)

  • MD

    Michael Dmytruk, DO

    Resident Physician
    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
    Fayetteville, NC, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    View ePoster

    • Author(s)

  • KR

    Karla G. Rivera, DO

    Resident Physician
    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
    Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • RH

    Reza Hooyshar, MD

    Resident Physician
    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
    Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • RA

    Ravinder K. Annamaneni, MD

    Chair of Surgery, Colorectal Surgeon
    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
    Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Purpose/Background: Anastomotic leaks are a dreaded complication following within the field of general surgery and colorectal surgery. Despite the advent of new surgical technology and improved surgical techniques leak rates still range from 1-19% at the highest depending on the publication referenced and level of anastomosis.

The purpose of this study is to compare a single institution's anastomotic leak rate using a standardized protocol to the reported colon and rectal anastomotic leak rate in the literature and national averages provided by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). It is also being done to analyze important factors that are affecting these outcomes.

Methods/Interventions: Over a 5 year period July 2019-July 2024 457 patients who underwent colon resection and primary anastomosis with a standardized protocol and intraoperative technique were retrospectively interrogated for complications. Anastomotic leak rate was the primary outcome with a mean follow up time of 9.2 months. Additionally preoperative risk factors were assessed including smoking, comorbidities, steroid use, and immunologic use, ASA status. Other outcomes assessed were 30 day readmission rates and major complications (cardiac events, DVTs, PEs, SSI), those still living with permanent ostomy.

Results/Outcomes: Of 457 patients who underwent colon resections 0 patients experienced an anastomotic leak this was less than the reported leak rate in the literature of around 2.7%(p= 0.0035). SSI of 2.7% which is notably lower than the reported rate in the literature of 7.4%(p=0.05). 30 day readmission rate was noted to be 11.4% when compared to values reported in the literature is slightly higher than the 8.9%(p=0.20).

Conclusion/Discussion: This study shows a single institution's leak rate when adherent to a defined protocol and intraoperative technique to be significantly less than the average leak rate reported in the literature. These outcomes were consistent across 5 years with a notable average follow up time of 9.2 months. Given the seriousness of clinically significant anastomotic leaks it is important to continue to reevaluate performance of institutions and to continue to try and improve performance in this area when evaluating surgical performance both on an individual level and on an institutional level.