With changing dietary habits and the increasing adoption of colorectal cancer screening, the incidence of low rectal cancer is on the rise in China. In Shanghai alone, the annual growth rate is estimated at 4.2% to 4.6%, with 70% to 80% of rectal cancers classified as mid-to-low rectal tumors. Despite advancements in surgical techniques, anastomotic leakage remains a critical challenge, with an incidence ranging from 1.6% to 20%. The risk is particularly pronounced in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, leading to severe complications such as high mortality rates, serious infections, loss of anal function, and an increased risk of tumor recurrence.
