Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels post-surgery are key in predicting anastomotic leakage, improving decision-making for surgeons.

• On postoperative day 3, CRP had an AUC of 0.91 with a cutoff of 18.69 mg/l for predicting leakage.
• On day 5, the AUC improved to 0.93 with a cutoff of 14.25 mg/l.

This predictive tool can enable timely interventions, enhancing patient outcomes.

• Both measurements showed high sensitivity and specificity for anastomotic leakage prediction.