Weréen A, Dahlberg M, Heinius G, et al. - Researchers conducted this retrospective, medical chart-based, observational study including patients with anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer from 3 Stockholm hospitals 2006–2016 in order to determine long-term results in patients treated with endoscopic transanal closure system, that is, endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure system (EVAC) compared with transanal irrigation. Among 81 patients who were identified to have anastomotic leakage, EVAC was employed in 14 (17%) patients and transanal irrigation in 34 (42%) patients. Either a permanent colostomy or treatment only with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage was performed in the remaining 33 (41%) patients. Findings yielded no evidence indicating better outcomes in patients treated with EVAC. They revealed similar rates of stoma closure with treatment with EVAC or transanal irrigation both when comparing all patients, and when comparing patients with similar defects.