Suspension and suturing technique can reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer excision: a single, prospective, cohort study

To evaluate the value of suspension and suturing technique in the prevention of anastomotic leakage of rectal cancer following double stapling technique. We performed a cohort study between August 2018 and December 2021 and analyzed the patients with rectal cancer underwent radical resection and double stapling technique at the department of general surgery. 324 patients were recruited in this research. There were 124 patients in control group and 200 patients in study group. There was a total of 19 patients present with anastomotic leakage. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 5.8%. 12 patients were in control group and 7 in study group. The incidence of anastomotic leakage in control group was 9.7%. while the incidence of anastomotic leakage in study group was 3.5%, which was significantly lower than that in control group (p = 0.021). There were 4 patients present with anastomotic bleeding in control group (3.2%) while there were 6 cases with anastomotic bleeding in study group (3%) with no statistical differences. The average operation time of patients with anastomotic leakage was longer than that of patients without anastomotic leakage (p = 0.048). The intraoperative blood loss of patients with anastomotic leakage was more (p = 0.003) and the proportion of diabetes in anastomotic leakage group was larger (p = 0.003). Suspension and suturing technique could reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage of patients with rectal cancer underwent double stapling technique. It is safe, simple, and easy to perform. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and diabetes may be high-risk factors of anastomotic leakage.