A double-lumen irrigation-suction tube placed during operation could reduce the risk of grade C anastomotic leakage resulting from selective sigmoid colon cancer radical resection.

AIM: This study investigated the effect of a double-lumen irrigation-suction tube in reducing the incidence of grade C anastomotic leakage (AL) resulting from a selective sigmoid colon cancer radical resection.

METHOD: This multicenter retrospective cohort study reviewed data of patients receiving sigmoid colon cancer radical resection from January 2010 to November 2019. The enrolled patients were divided into the passive drainage tube group and the double-lumen irrigation-suction tube group, based on the use of a double-lumen irrigation-suction tube or a passive drainage tube during the surgery. The effect of double-lumen irrigation-suction tube on the incidence of grade C anastomotic leakage was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 761 patients included in the study, 56 patients (7.36%) experienced AL. Of the 56 patients, 22 were diagnosed with grade C AL. The double-lumen irrigation-suction tube was a protective factor for forming a grade C AL compared with the passive drainage tube (OR = 0.194, 95% CI: 0.055-0.686, p = 0.011). Of the 34 patients with grade A or B AL, 26 patients had spontaneous closure-19 in the double-lumen irrigation-suction tube group and 7 in the passive drainage tube group. The double-lumen irrigation-suction tube (multivariable HR = 3.418, 95% CI: 1.43-11.203, p = 0.038) was associated with spontaneous closure of grade A or B AL.

CONCLUSION

Placing a double-lumen irrigation-suction tube may reduce the risk of grade C AL resulting from a selective sigmoid colon cancer radical resection. However, this study had substantial selection bias and the results should be reconfirmed by a randomized clinical trial.