Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01462-1 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Analysis of Risk Factor for Anastomotic Leakage after Lower Rectal Cancer 
Resection,  Including Drain Type: A Retrospective Single -Center Study  
 
Version: 1 Date: 13 Jun 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Authors did a retrospective analysis for identification of risk factors for anastomotic Leakage 
after lower rectal cancer resection. However, there are few concerns which needs to be 
answered.  
 
1) How did they conclude that open drainage system was responsible for reduced 
anastomotic leak, when there was no significant difference between drain output in 
anastomotic leak group vs no leak group (Table 2 as  well as Table 3 - No significance).  
2) The p value on univariate analysis for drainage system was not significant, they 
how it was used for multivariate analysis.  
3) Operative procedure was a significant factor in univariate analysis but it was not 
analyze d in multivariate analysis. Please consult statistician.  
4) In patients with closed drainage, how many patients had colo -anal anastomosis, ISR 
and hand sewn anastomosis? These are confounding factors and should have been mentioned.  
5) Standard terms shoul d be used e.g ultra low LAR instead of super low LAR, Rb 
positive lesions  
6) Also, well -formed sentences should be used and grammatical errors corrected.  
7) Provide reference for this: We previously experienced patients with continued 
anastomotic leakage after changing from open to closed drainage after LAR for lower rectal 
cancer  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in th e manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
Qual ity of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following ques tions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from 
an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of 
this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
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financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of 
the manuscript?  
 
4. Have yo u received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that  
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing int erests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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