Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after surgery for colorectal cancer: protocol for a scoping review

PURPOSE: This planned scoping review aims to map the current knowledge on preoperative risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage following colorectal cancer surgery.

METHODS: The review will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extensions for Scoping Reviews guidelines. The search will be conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Additionally, we will include grey literature sources. Only original studies examining a risk factor for anastomotic leakage will be included. Data will be charted based on trial characteristics, demographic data, population size, the investigated risk factors, and potential interventions.

RESULTS: The structured overview will be presented as a narrative summary with supplementary statistics.

CONCLUSION: This protocol describes the methodology for a scoping review which aims to map primary research on preoperative risk factors for anastomotic leakage following colorectal surgery. By systematically collecting and presenting the existing evidence, this review seeks to identify key findings and highlight research gaps to guide clinicians and researchers.