Late anastomotic leakage after anal sphincter saving surgery for rectal cancer: is it different from early anastomotic leakage?

Although multiple studies have examined anastomotic leakage (AL) after low anterior resection (LAR), their definitions of AL varied, and few have studied late diagnosed AL after surgery. This study aimed to characterize late AL after anal sphincter saving surgery (SSS) for rectal cancer by examining clinical characteristics, risk factors, and management of patients with late AL compared with early AL. Data from January 2005 to December 2014 were...