Colorectal anastomotic leakage can be predicted by abdominal aortic calcification on preoperative CT scans: A pilot study

SummaryBackgroundThere have been no solid data regarding whether patients with aortic calcification (AC) who have undergone colorectal surgery are at increased risk for anastomotic leakage. Our study aim to investigate the impact of AC on anastomotic leakage (AL) and postoperative morbidity after colorectal resection.MethodsThis was a cohort study of 60 patients who were prospectively registered in a database. We evaluated the relationship between an aortic calcification score (ACS), measured on preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging, and surgical complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.ResultsACS was strongly correlated with mortality rate. All three of the deceased patients were in the ACS-2 group (5%; P = 0.021). The rate of AL was positively correlated with ACS; no leakage was found cases of ACS-0, with a rate of 18% in cases of ACS-1 and 44% in cases of ACS-2 (P = 0.022). The consequences of AL were more serious according to the grade of ACS.DiscussionThis study suggested that aortic calcification score is correlated with surgical outcomes, particularly anastomosis leakage, after colorectal surgery. These findings could provide useful tools for adapting surgical strategies by delaying colorectal anastomosis in high-risk patients.