Background Significant morbidity can result from perineal wounds, particularly after
radiotherapy and extensive resection for cancer. Myocutaneous flaps have been used to
improve healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and results of
primary rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the vagina and perineum
after extended abdominoperineal resection. Methods Thirty-one consecutive patients
undergoing one-stage rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction of extensive …

Clearly the most clinically important endpoint analysed by the authors was the anastomotic
leak rate. The abstract states that anastomotic leak occurred in five patients (6percent) who
had bowel preparation and one (1 per cent) in the control group (P= 0· 021). The casual
reader might be impressed with this apparently clinically and statistically significant finding
and even consider changing their practice. However, the correct P value is 0· 213 (Fisher's
Exact Test; two-tailed), which is clearly not statistically significant as stated in Table 3, where …