Comprehensive Biomarker Assessment for Early Detection of Anastomotic Leakage Post-Colorectal Surgery: Insights from Inflammation to Ischemia

By
Yuji Li
June 2, 2026

Frontiers In Surgery

Objective:

To systematically review the current status and effectiveness of various biomarkers in predicting anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery and propose a comprehensive multimodal prediction framework.

Key Findings:

Anastomotic leakage has an incidence of 2% to 19% and is associated with significant complications.
Traditional diagnostic methods are reactive and often delayed, increasing adverse outcomes.
Biomarkers from inflammation, ischemia, microbiome, and tissue repair show potential for early detection of AL.
Machine learning algorithms may help integrate diverse data sources, but external validation is lacking.

Interpretation:

The review highlights the fragmentation in existing research on biomarkers for AL, indicating a lack of systematic integration of findings into clinical tools.

Limitations:

Existing studies are heterogeneous in endpoints, timing, and methodology, with examples including variations in biomarker types and measurement techniques.
Most research is based on small-sample, single-center cohorts with limited external validation.

Conclusion:

A multimodal prediction framework integrating inflammation, ischemia, microbiome, and tissue repair is proposed, emphasizing the urgent need for future research focused on validation and standardization.

Comprehensive Biomarker Assessment for Early Detection of Anastomotic Leakage Post-Colorectal Surgery: Insights from Inflammation to Ischemia

Objective:

Key Findings:

Interpretation:

Limitations:

Conclusion:

Original Source(s)

Multimodal biomarker panel for early prediction of anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery: from inflammation to ischemia

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