The persisting presacral sinus after anastomotic leakage following anterior resection or restorative proctocolectomy.

AIM: Despite improvements in anastomotic technique, anastomotic leakage is frequently encountered following anterior resection. This can eventually evolve into a presacral sinus. This study assessed the incidence, the natural course and the outcome of persisting presacral sinus.

METHOD: Patients who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) for cancer or restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) for ulcerative colitis or familial polyposis were eligible. Patients with anastomotic leakage or a presacral abscess were included. Outcome parameters included a persistent presacral sinus, or its closure and average time to closure and the stoma closure rate.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients were identified with a sinus after LAR (n = 20) or RPC (n = 5). A persistent sinus was present in nine (1%) of 834 patients after LAR and two (0.9%) of 229 patients after RPC. Definitive resolution of the sinus occurred in 12 (52%) of 23 assessable patients. This was achieved at a median of 340 days (range 23-731 days). At final follow-up, nine of the 23 patients had permanent faecal diversion because of recurrent abscess or persistent sinus formation, seven after LAR and two after RPC.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of patients with anastomotic leakage after rectal surgery develop a chronic sinus, of which only half heal over time. Persisting sinus is the main reason for a permanent stoma.