What happens when a bowel resection leaks?

What happens when a bowel resection leaks?

A bowel resection is just one type of operation that involves anastomosis and anastomotic leaks. But it is the most common one. When bowel contents leak into your abdominal cavity, they can cause infection and inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines your abdominal cavity (peritonitis). Infection in your abdomen can spread to other abdominal organs and can enter your bloodstream. Serious infection can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening physical reaction that can include shock, organ failure or death.

Another body channel that can leak into your abdominal cavity is your urine channel. Any operation that removes one of the organs connected to your ureter, such as a kidney transplant or a prostatectomy, requires anastomosis. If it leaks, urine can collect inside of your abdominal cavity (urinoma). Infection and sepsis are also risks outside of your abdominal cavity. For example, an anastomotic leak in your esophagus — which is part of your gastrointestinal tract — can infect your chest cavity.