Minerva chirurgica
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Aim of the study was to report the experience of a single center in the surgical treatment of anastomotic leak after colorectal resection for cancer, focusing on its incidence, diagnosis and management, with particular attention to surgical options. ⋯ Mortality rate in patients undergoing re-operation for colorectal anastomotic leakeage is still high, and accounts for up to 40% of the deaths after colorectal resection for cancer. In the light of these data, strategic clinical decisions are mandatory to optimize the selection of patients who need an early and fast surgical approach. What does this paper add to the literature? Systematic and prospective data recording is an essential tool to assess the quality of healthcare and to plan quality improvement programs. Every effort should be done to reach an early diagnosis of CAL, possibly in a pre-clinical phase in which non clinical methods could be used to predict it.