Malnutrition-Related Factors Increased the Risk of Anastomotic Leak for Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery

Elevated serum IL-17 levels and intraoperative hypothermia are risk factors for early postoperative anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer: a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

In this prospective observational cohort study, we aim to investigate the risk factors for early postoperative anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients undergoing rectal cancer resection.

METHODS

This study included 459 patients with rectal cancer who underwent treatment at our hospital from January 2021 to October 2022. All patients were hospitalized for 1 week postoperatively and observed for the occurrence of AL. Fasting venous blood samples (5 mL) were collected from all cases 1 day before surgery and 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery, and serum levels of interleukins (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic, clinical data, intraoperative hypothermia, and nutritional indicators were collected for all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 software.

RESULTS

AL patients had significantly lower hemoglobin, albumin (ALB) levels, and a higher proportion of intraoperative hypothermia compared to patients in the non-AL group (P < .05). On the first, second, and third days after surgery, patients in the AL group had significantly higher levels of serum CRP, IL-1β, and IL-17 compared to the non-AL group. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between serum IL-17 levels and CRP levels. Serum IL-17 had the highest predictive value for early AL, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.755 cutoff value of 94.77 pg/mL, a sensitivity of 70.1%, and a specificity of 66.0%. Moreover, logistic regression analysis indicated that intraoperative hypothermia, decreased ALB levels, and increased CRP, IL-1β, and IL-17 levels on the first day after surgery were identified as risk factors for early AL in rectal cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found a significant elevation of IL-17 levels in the serum of patients who experienced early postoperative AL. Furthermore, intraoperative hypothermia and elevated IL-17 levels on the first day after surgery were identified as risk factors for early postoperative AL in rectal cancer patients.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leak in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Rectal Cancer Resection: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most severe complications following rectal cancer (RC) surgery, with significant implications for morbidity, mortality, and oncological outcomes. Identifying risk factors associated with AL may enhance surgical decision-making and improve patient prognosis. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 42 adult patients who underwent RC resection at a hospital in Mexico City between January 2015 and December 2022. Demographic, clinical, pathological, and surgical variables were analyzed to assess their association with AL. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors. Results The overall incidence of AL was 11.9%, consistent with previous literature. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in patient-related factors such as age, BMI, ASA classification, diabetes mellitus, smoking, or biochemical markers (p>0.05). Treatment-related factors such as neoadjuvant therapy and diverting stoma (DS) placement did not show a significant association with AL. However, surgical factors played a crucial role: operative time was significantly longer in patients with AL (349.0 vs. 232.9 minutes, p=0.024), intraoperative blood loss was markedly higher (800.0 vs. 198.6 mL, p<0.001), and transfusion rates were elevated (60.0% vs. 13.5%, p=0.040). Tumor location in the middle rectum was more frequent among AL cases (60.0% vs. 18.9%, p=0.090). Postoperative complications were significantly more severe in patients with AL, with prolonged hospital stays (20.0 vs. 10.2 days, p=0.043) and increased reintervention rates (80.0% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001). In the logistic regression model, none of the analyzed variables reached statistical significance (p>0.99). However, operative time showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.736 (p=0.997), suggesting that for each additional minute of surgery, the risk of AL could increase by 73.6%. Despite this trend, the wide confidence interval limits its precision and clinical applicability. Age showed an OR of 0.023 (p=0.998), potentially suggesting a 97.7% reduction in leakage risk for each additional year, although this result was not statistically significant and should be interpreted with caution. Conclusion Although no statistically significant risk factors were identified in the multivariate analysis, intraoperative variables such as prolonged surgical time, high blood loss, and transfusion requirement emerged as clinically relevant trends. These findings emphasize the need for optimizing surgical techniques and perioperative management to mitigate AL risk. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to validate these associations and improve risk stratification models.

Global prevalence and moderating factors of malnutrition in colorectal cancer survivors: A meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This meta-analysis aims to estimate the global prevalence of severe, moderate, overall malnutrition and moderating factors of malnutrition in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, CINAHL, Medline-OVID, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 8, 2024, without language, region, or publication date restrictions. A generalized linear mixed model and random-effects model were used to examine the pooled prevalence, and moderator analyses were implemented to investigate variations in the pooled prevalence.

RESULTS

In 35 studies involving 9,278 colorectal cancer survivors, the global prevalence was 12.10% for severe malnutrition (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.28-16.92; n = 507), 33.13% for moderate malnutrition (95% CI: 28.93-37.34; n: 2,192), and 47.78% for overall malnutrition (95% CI: 41.60-53.96; n: 3,812). Asia showed higher rates of severe malnutrition 16.67% (95% CI: 4.66-28.68, n: 232) and overall malnutrition 53.17% (95% CI: 39.66-66.69, n: 1,913), whereas low-middle income countries demonstrated higher rates of overall malnutrition 67.46% (95% CI: 30.25-100.00, n: 82). Male sex, colon cancer, advanced stage, metastasis, chemotherapy, surgery, adjuvant treatment, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and diabetes significantly moderated overall malnutrition prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis reports detailed data on the global prevalence of CRC survivors experience malnutrition, highlighting that health-care professionals should consider the identified moderating factors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Addressing malnutrition in CRC survivors is critical, as early and proactive nutritional management can enhance recovery, improve quality of life, and potentially reduce cancer-related complications associated with malnutrition.

Machine learning and deep learning to improve prevention of anastomotic leak after rectal cancer surgery

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a significant complication following rectal cancer surgery, adversely affecting both quality of life and oncological outcomes. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning and deep learning, offer promising avenues for predicting and preventing AL. These technologies can analyze extensive clinical datasets to identify preoperative and perioperative risk factors such as malnutrition, body composition, and radiological features. AI-based models have demonstrated superior predictive power compared to traditional statistical methods, potentially guiding clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, AI can provide surgeons with intraoperative feedback on blood supply and anatomical dissection planes, minimizing the risk of intraoperative complications and reducing the likelihood of AL development.

Effects of Diverting Stoma Creation in Minimally Invasive Surgery for Rectal Cancer

Objectives

In rectal cancer surgery, a diverting stoma (DS) is used to prevent severe anastomotic leakage (AL), peritonitis, reoperation, and longer hospitalization. DS creation has increased in the last few decades, without establishment of clear criteria for construction of a DS. Therefore, the goal of the study was to investigate the validity of DS construction based on risk factors for AL, as an approach to reduce the number of stoma creations.

Methods

The subjects were 143 patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted low anterior resection with DS creation from January 2010 to May 2021. Patients and operative characteristics were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors for AL.

Results

Of the 143 subjects, 30 (21%) had AL, including asymptomatic AL in 19 cases (13%) and AL requiring conservative therapy in 11 cases (8%). No case of AL required reoperation. In cases with asymptomatic AL, there was a defect in the anastomosis found by colonoscopy several days after the operation, before discharge. In univariate analysis, preoperative Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) ≥1 (p=0.046) and number of stapler firings ≥3 (p=0.002) were associated with AL. In multivariate analysis, only GPS ≥1 was significantly associated with increased AL (p=0.033; OR=4.225; 95% CI 1.122 to 15.905).

Conclusions

DS creation is effective for avoiding reoperation for AL. Preoperative GPS ≥1 is a risk factor for AL in low anterior resection with a DS for rectal cancer. Thus, DS construction should be considered in a case with an elevated preoperative GPS.

Risk factors of anastomotic leak in colorectal cancer: a multicentric study in a Latin American country

Introduction

The anastomotic leak (AL) is one of the most feared complications of colorectal surgery, since it is associated with a high rate of morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and cost of care. Our aim was to determine the risk factors associated with anastomosis leak in colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgical resection with anastomosis.

Methods

A multicentre observational, analytical, retrospective and case-control study was carried out. For each case, two controls were included from three national hospitals from Lima, Peru during the period 2021-2022. To determine the degree of association, multivariate logistic regression model was carried out.

Results

A total of 360 patients were included, 120 from each hospital. The mean age of the population was 68.03 ± 14.21 years old. The majority were 65 years old or older (66.1%), 52.8% were female, and 63.3% had clinical stage III. The 40% of the patients had albumin levels lower than 3.5 g/dL. Regarding the surgery, 96.4% were elective, 68.9% underwent open approach, and 80.8% had an operative time of more than 180 minutes. Most of them had right colon cancer (50.8%). In the multivariate analysis, a significant association was found with the age variable (OR = 2.48; 95%CI:1.24-4.97), clinical tumour level (OR = 2.71; 95%CI:1.34-5.48), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Score (OR = 3.23; 95%CI:1.10-9.50), preoperative serum albumin (OR = 22.2; 95%CI:11.5-42.9).

Conclusion

The most important independent risk factors associated with AL among patients with colorectal cancer were pre-operative such as lower preoperative serum albumin levels, followed by a higher ASA Score, clinical-stage III-IV, and an age ≥65 years old.

Prophylactic defunctioning stomas improve clinical outcomes of anastomotic leak following rectal cancer resections: An analysis of the US Rectal Cancer Consortium

PURPOSE

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a complication of low anterior resection (LAR) that results in substantial morbidity. There is immense interest in evaluating immediate postoperative and long-term oncologic outcomes in patients who undergo diverting loop ileostomies (DLI). The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between fecal diversion, AL, and oncologic outcomes.

METHODS

This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study using patient data obtained from the US Rectal Cancer Consortium database compiled from six academic institutions. The study population included patients with rectal adenocarcinoma undergoing LAR. The primary outcome was the incidence of AL among patients who did or did not receive DLI during LAR. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for AL, receipt of adjuvant therapy, 3-year overall survival, and 3-year recurrence.

RESULTS

Of 815 patients, 38 (4.7%) suffered AL after LAR. Patients with AL were more likely to be male, have unintentional preoperative weight loss, and are less likely to undergo DLI. On multivariable analysis, DLI remained protective against AL (p < 0.001). Diverted patients were less likely to undergo future surgical procedures including additional ostomy creation, completion proctectomy, or pelvic washout for AL. Subgroup analysis of 456 patients with locally advanced disease showed that DLI was correlated with increased receipt of adjuvant therapy for patients with and without AL on univariate analysis (SHR:1.59; [95% CI 1.19-2.14]; p = 0.002), but significance was not met in multivariate models.

CONCLUSION

Lack of DLI and preoperative weight loss was associated with anastomotic leak. Fecal diversion may improve the timely initiation of adjuvant oncologic therapy. The long-term outcomes following routine diverting stomas warrant further study.

Clinical atlas of rectal cancer highlights the barriers and insufficient interventions underlying the unfavorable outcomes in older patients

Background

Aging confers an increased risk of developing cancer, and the global burden of cancer is cumulating as human longevity increases. Providing adequate care for old patients with rectal cancer is challenging and complex.

Method

A total of 428 and 44,788 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic rectal cancer from a referral tertiary care center (SYSU cohort) and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database (SEER cohort) were included. Patients were categorized into old (over 65 years) and young (aged 50-65 years) groups. An age-specific clinical atlas of rectal cancer was generated, including the demographic and clinicopathological features, molecular profiles, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Old and young patients were similar in clinicopathological risk factors and molecular features, including TNM stage, tumor location, tumor differentiation, tumor morphology, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion. However, old patients had significantly worse nutritional status and more comorbidities than young patients. In addition, old age was independently associated with less systemic cancer treatment (adjusted odds ratio 0.294 [95% CI 0.184-0.463, P < 0.001]). We found that old patients had significantly worse overall survival (OS) outcomes in both SYSU (P < 0.001) and SEER (P < 0.001) cohorts. Moreover, the death and recurrence risk of old patients in the subgroup not receiving chemo/radiotherapy (P < 0.001 for OS, and P = 0.046 for time to recurrence [TTR]) reverted into no significant risk in the subgroup receiving chemo/radiotherapy.

Conclusions

Although old patients had similar tumor features to young patients, they had unfavorable survival outcomes associated with insufficient cancer care from old age. Specific trials with comprehensive geriatric assessment for old patients are needed to identify the optimal treatment regimens and improve unmet cancer care.

Study registration

The study was registered on the research registry with the identifier of researchregistry 7635.

A nomogram to predict the risk of colorectal anastomotic leakage combining inflammatory-nutritional and abdominal aorta calcium index

Background

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication after colorectal cancer surgery, which affects the quality of life and the prognosis. This study aims to create a novel nomogram to predict the risk of anastomotic leakage for patients with colorectal cancer based on the preoperative inflammatory-nutritional index and abdominal aorta calcium index.

Methods

292 patients at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital (Tianjin, China) from January 2018 to October 2021 who underwent colorectal cancer surgery with a primary anastomosis were retrospectively reviewed. A nomogram was constructed based on the results of multivariate logistic regression model. The calibration curves and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to verify the efficacy of the nomogram.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that tumor location (P = 0.002), preoperative albumin (P = 0.006), preoperative lymphocyte (P = 0.035), preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.024), and superior mesenteric artery calcium volumes score (P = 0.004) were identified as the independent risk factors for postoperative anastomotic leakage in patients with colorectal carcinoma. A nomogram was constructed based on the results of the multivariate analysis, and the C-index of the calibration curves was 0.913 (95%CI: 0.870-0.957) in the training cohort and 0.840 (95%CI: 0.753-0.927) in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

The nomogram, combining basic variables, inflammatory-nutritional index and abdominal aorta calcium index, could effectively predict the possibility of postoperative anastomotic leakage for patients with colorectal cancer, which could guide surgeons to carry out the appropriate treatment for the prevention of anastomotic leakage.

Left colic artery diameter is an important factor affecting anastomotic blood supply in sigmoid colon cancer or rectal cancer surgery: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic blood supply is vital to anastomotic healing. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of the left colic artery (LCA) on blood supply in the anastomotic area, explore the relationship between individual differences in the LCA and blood supply in the anastomotic area, and elucidate the relevant indications for LCA retention during radical resection for sigmoid or rectal cancer.

METHOD

Radical sigmoid or rectal cancer resection with LCA retention was performed in 40 patients with colorectal cancer who participated in this study. Systemic pressure, LCA diameter, and the distance from the root of the LCA to the root of the inferior mesenteric artery were measured and recorded. The marginal artery stump pressure in the anastomotic colon before and after the LCA clamping was measured, respectively.

RESULTS

There is a significant difference between the marginal artery stump pressure before LCA ligation and after ligation (53.1 ± 12.38 vs 42.76 ± 12.71, p < 0.001). The anastomotic blood supply positively and linearly correlated with body mass index and systemic pressure. Receiver-operating curve analysis revealed that LCA diameter (area under the curve 0.971, cutoff 1.95 mm) was an effective predictor of LCA improving anastomosis blood supply. No relationship was found between the LCA root location and anastomotic blood supply.

CONCLUSION

Preserving the LCA is effective in improving blood supply in the anastomotic area, and larger LCA diameters result in a better blood supply to the anastomotic area.

Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Anastomotic Leak in Colorectal Cancer

Anastomotic leak (AL) represents one of the most detrimental complications after colorectal surgery. The patient-related factors and surgery-related factors leading to AL have been identified in previous studies. Through early identification and timely adjustment of risk factors, preventive measures can be taken to reduce potential AL. However, there are still many problems associated with AL. The debate about preventive measures such as preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), intraoperative drainage, and surgical scope also continues. Recently, the gut microbiota has received more attention due to its important role in various diseases. Although the underlying mechanisms of gut microbiota on AL have not been validated completely, new strategies that manipulate intrinsic mechanisms are expected to prevent and treat AL. Moreover, laboratory examinations for AL prediction and methods for blood perfusion assessment are likely to be promoted in clinical practice. This review outlines possible risk factors for AL and suggests some preventive measures in terms of patient, surgery, and gut microbiota.

Risks of anastomotic leakage in patients with colorectal cancer after operation and how to effectively avoid it

Despite the considerable progress in surgical level and imaging examination methods, anastomotic leakage is still the major complication after intestinal surgery with high incidence rate and mortality rate. Moreover, anastomotic leakage has become one of the serious complications threatening the postoperative life safety, prognosis and quality of life. The occurrence of anastomotic leakage involves the changes of a variety of pathophysiological factors, and is affected by intestinal microbiota, inflammation and immune system. Preoperative intestinal preparation will change the type and number of microbial population in the intestine. Intraoperative anastomotic mode and bleeding volume are also closely related to the occurrence of anastomotic leakage. In addition, the occurrence of anastomotic leakage is associated with local recurrence of colorectal cancer after surgery. Intraoperative protective stoma is confirmed to reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage. Combined preoperative adjustment of nutritional status and inflammatory factors is important for avoiding anastomotic leakage after surgery.