What is an anastomotic leak?

What is an anastomotic leak?

An anastomotic leak is a potentially dangerous complication of anastomosis, a surgical procedure. Anastomosis connects two ends of a channel (a tube or passageway) together. It’s usually done after part of the channel has been removed (resected). For example, if you have surgery to remove part of your intestines (bowel resection), the two severed ends of the intestine are reconnected. This connection is called an anastomosis.

An anastomotic leak is a potential complication of this procedure. It occurs when the two ends of a channel that have been connected together don’t seal completely, and contents from the inside leak out. It’s serious because the channels in our bodies are designed to carry substances that don’t belong in other parts. For example, digestive contents in the gastrointestinal tract contain bacteria that can infect the abdominal cavity if they leak out.