Systematic review of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors for colorectal anastomotic leaks

Anastomotic leak (AL) represents a dreaded complication following colorectal surgery, with a prevalence of 1-19 per cent. There remains a lack of consensus regarding factors that may predispose to AL and the relative risks associated with them. The objective was to perform a systematic review of the literature, focusing on the role of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors in the development of colorectal ALs.

A systematic review was performed to identify adjustable and non-adjustable preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors in the pathogenesis of AL. Additionally, a severity grading system was proposed to guide treatment.