In this study the authors diagnosed the leakage when two or more of the following clinical parameters (routinely analized in all the patients which underwent colorectal surgery) were found in the postoperative course: raised WBC, raised CRP (plasmatic C-reactive protein), abdominal pain, prolonged ileus, fecaloid material or pus drained by the peri-anastomotic drain, raised temperature, generalized signs of sepsis. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is Sepsis.