Impact of Intraoperative Anastomotic Testing on Colorectal Surgery Outcomes

Surgeons’ perception of anastomotic perfusion and integrity during left-sided colorectal resections significantly affects anastomotic leakage (AL) rates and related morbidity. The use of indocyanine green fluorescent angiography (ICG-FA) and air-leak test (ALT) did not mitigate the higher risk in the subgroup where both tests were performed. AL, major morbidity, and reoperation for AL risks were significantly elevated in this subgroup, emphasizing the importance of surgeon evaluation in clinical practice.