What causes an anastomotic leak?

What causes an anastomotic leak?

A leak in an anastomosis typically results from a failure in the healing process. There’s no one direct cause, but several factors might contribute. For example:

• Too much tension at the surgical connection. This is the main thing surgeons try to avoid to prevent a leak. Tension could theoretically cause the connection to pull and stretch with movement. It’s more of a risk when the surgical site is in a narrower place that’s more difficult to access.
• Preexisting infection in your body cavity. A preexisting infection will cause inflammation and swelling of your body tissues. Long-term infection will cause a loss of collagen. Your surgeons will try to control for infection by rinsing your body cavity with antiseptic and giving you antibiotics. But your tissues may already be weakened at the time of surgery.
• Reduced blood flow (ischemia) in your body channel being connected. Ischemia can be a preexisting condition or it may be a reaction to surgery.
• Compromised immunity, due to a health condition, smoking, low nutritional status or use of immunosuppressants. Radiation therapy also damages tissues and compromises immunity. Many people having anastomosis surgery are people who have cancer, too.