Anastomotic Complications

Abstract

Book chapter: Anastomotic complications are among the most feared and difficult problems that colorectal surgeons commonly encounter in clinical practice. The consequences of a failed intestinal anastomosis can be devastating to the patient, family, and surgeon alike. Management commonly results in prolonged hospitalization with considerable suffering and associated cost, making it among the most critical of postoperative outcomes. Stricture is a relatively frequent delayed complication of colorectal or pouch-anal anastomosis and may be managed in most circumstances with nonoperative approaches. Bleeding following stapled colorectal, colonic, or intestinal anastomosis is usually self-limited, and the majority of cases resolve spontaneously with expectant management.