THE IMPACT OF COLORECTAL ANASTOMOTIC LEAKAGE ON LONG-TERM TREATMENT OUTCOMES (REVIEW)

Sergeev Oleg Markovich

Colorectal anastomotic leak is one of the most serious complications of colorectal surgery, occurring in 3-20% of cases. In addition to its impact on immediate outcomes, anastomotic leak significantly impacts long-term oncologic and functional outcomes. This review analyzes current data on the impact of colorectal anastomotic leak on survival rates, recurrence rates, functional outcomes, and patient quality of life. Anastomotic leak is associated with a 10-15% reduction in 5-year overall survival, a 1.5-2-fold increase in local recurrence rates, and the development of low anterior resection syndrome in 60-80% of patients. Adverse effects include delayed adjuvant therapy, inflammatory-induced tumor dissemination, and the development of fibrosis with pelvic dysfunction. Understanding the long-term consequences of anastomotic leakage is critical for improving surgical techniques, patient selection, and developing preventive measures.

Keywords:anastomotic leakage, colorectal cancer, long-term survival, local recurrence, quality of life, functional outcomes