No Significant Benefit of Omental Pedicled Flap in Preventing Anastomotic Leak After Rectal Cancer Surgery

Researchers assessed the impact of omental pedicled flap (OPF) on anastomotic leak in patients undergoing low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Out of the 853 patients included in the study, OPF was utilized in 12.4% of cases. The analysis revealed that OPF use did not affect the occurrence of anastomotic leaks or operative blood loss. However, it was associated with a longer operative duration. Consequently, OPF did not demonstrate any significant benefit in preventing anastomotic leak in this cohort of patients.