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Testing a New Tool to Lower the Risk of Leaks After Rectal Cancer Surgery

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Testing a New Tool to Lower the Risk of Leaks After Rectal Cancer Surgery

After rectal cancer surgery, one of the biggest risks is a complication called an anastomotic leak. This happens when the newly joined parts of the bowel do not heal properly, causing leaks. A recent study tested a new method using a special dye to reduce this risk.

Doctors used a dye called indocyanine green (ICG) during surgery. This dye helps show how well blood is flowing to the bowel. Good blood flow is important for healing. In the study, some patients had surgery with ICG, and others had regular surgery without it.

The study included 766 patients from hospitals across Europe. After surgery, the group that used ICG had fewer leaks overall (10%) compared to the group that did not use ICG (15%). The difference was not large enough to be called “statistically significant,” but it showed a clear trend.

Most of the benefit seemed to be in preventing milder leaks. The rate of serious leaks was about the same in both groups. No one had serious side effects from the dye.

This study suggests that ICG might help lower the risk of leaks after rectal cancer surgery. While the results are not final, they give hope that this simple tool could help surgeons make better decisions during the operation.

If you’re planning rectal cancer surgery, ask your doctor about how they check blood flow during the procedure. Better healing means fewer problems after surgery.

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Dr. Harsh J Shah

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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
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