EARLY COMPLICATIONS OF INTESTINAL ANASTOMOSIS IN EMERGENCY ABDOMINAL SURGERY

Abstract

Emergency abdominal surgeries present a high risk of postoperative complications, especially when they involve intestinal anastomoses. In these situations, factors such as hemodynamic instability, contamination of the abdominal cavity, sepsis, and limitations in preoperative preparation can compromise the anastomotic healing process. This study aimed to analyze the main early complications of intestinal anastomosis in emergency abdominal surgeries, as well as the associated factors and their impacts on clinical outcomes. This is a narrative literature review, conducted through searches in national and international electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and the Virtual Health Library, encompassing studies published in the last ten years. The results showed that anastomotic dehiscence is the most serious and frequent early complication, followed by intestinal fistulas, intra-abdominal abscesses, surgical site infections, sepsis, paralytic ileus, and bleeding. The presence of peritonitis, malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, use of vasopressors, and intraoperative technical factors were consistently associated with an increased risk of complications. It is concluded that early complications of intestinal anastomosis in emergency abdominal surgery represent a significant clinical challenge, reinforcing the need for careful assessment of surgical risk, appropriate choice of surgical technique, and intensive monitoring in the immediate postoperative period, aiming at reducing morbidity and mortality and improving care outcomes.