Table 3 Comparison of surgical outcomes between fail-safe and control groups within the first 90 days after surgery (n = 696)

Major complication DC ≥ 3b (%)

42 (22.6%)

50 (9.8%)

 < 0.0001

Re-operation (%)

35 (18.8%)

31 (6.1%)

< 0.0001

Pneumonia (%)

12 (6.5%)

13 (2.5%)

0.014

Wound infection (%)

34 (18.3%)

27 (5.3%)

 < 0.0001

90-day mortality (%)

5 (2.7%)

12 (2.4%)

0.800

Anastomotic leakage (%)

22 (11.8%)

19 (3.7%)

 < 0.0001

 Left colon resection

4

2

0.047

 Right colon resection

3

12

0.755

 Resection of other parts of the colon

0

4

0.278

 Low rectal resection

15

1

 < 0.001