Does the Degree of Calcification of the Celiac Trunk and Superior Mesenteric Artery on Preoperative Computerized Tomography Predict the Risk of Anastomotic Leak After Right Colectomy? A Single Center Retrospective Study

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of preoperative abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scans of patients who underwent right colectomy at the Vendean Departmental Hospital (France) between January 2011 and December 2016. We established a calcification score, which was correlated to the incidence of anastomotic leak and to the patients' American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score.

Results: The charts of 250 patients were reviewed. Twenty-three patients had a postoperative anastomotic leak. A stratified analysis revealed that the risk of developing an anastomotic leak was statistically significantly increased in patients whose calcification score was equal to or greater than 3 (P<0.05). In these patients, the risk was increased by a factor of 3.48 [odds ratio: 3.48 (1.45-8.36)]. A second stratified analysis showed that a calcification score of 2 at the level of the celiac axis takeoff was correlated with a statistically significantly increased risk of anastomotic leak (P<0.01). There was a correlation between a calcification score≥3 and an ASA score≥3.

Conclusion: A calcification score≥3 correlates to an increased risk of anastomotic leak. The analysis of CT findings is simple, easy and reproducible. This calcification score should be confirmed by a prospective study.