Management of postoperative bleeding after laparoscopic left colectomy

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding after left colectomy is an uncommon complication that can lead to critical situation. Diagnostic and therapeutic manoeuvres should be performed in emergency with step-by-step strategy in order to avoid reoperation. This study aims to identify bleeding risks factors and describe a management strategy.

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent left colectomy with primary anastomosis, from May 2004 to December 2013. We studied their demographic characteristics, surgical procedures and postoperative courses, more specifically hemorrhagic complications, management of bleeding and outcomes.

Hemorrhagic anastomotic complication occurred in 47 of the 729 (6.4 %) patients after left colectomy. Neither anticoagulant nor antiaggregant treatment was associated with postoperative bleeding. Among the 47 patients with bleeding, endoscopy was performed in 37 (78.7 %). At the time of endoscopy, the bleeding was spontaneously stopped in nine (24.3 %). Therapeutic strategy used clips in 10 (27.0 %) cases, mucosal sclerosis in 11 (29.7 %) and both in 7 (18.9 %) cases. Four (8.5 %) patients required blood transfusion for treatment of this gastrointestinal bleeding. Five (10.6 %) patients with bleeding were reoperated in this group because early endoscopy showed associated anastomotic leakage. Based on a multivariate analysis, stapled anastomosis and diverticular disease were independent factors associated with anastomotic bleeding.

Postoperative anastomotic bleeding is not so uncommon after left colectomy. This complication should be particularly dreaded in patients who underwent stapled colorectal anastomosis for diverticular disease. With the use of clip or mucosal sclerosis, early endoscopy is a safe and efficient treatment.