Background: The routine establishment of a diverting stoma (DS) remains controversial in every patient undergoing Dixon operation. We aimed to establish a model for the risk assessment of rectal anastomotic leak (RAREAL) after Dixon in non-emergency patients with rectal cancer, using routinely available variables, by which surgeons could individualize their approach to DS.
Methods: 323 patients who underwent Dixon operation for rectal cancer from January 2015 to December 2018 were taken as the model group for retrospective study.