Abstract
Background Anastomotic leak after esophagectomy is one of the most challenging complications
resulting in a high morbidity and mortality and prolonged hospitalization. The aim
of this retrospective study was to access the impact of endoscopy intervention in
anastomotic leak.
Methods A retrospective review was conducted at our hospital from January 2008 to December
2016. In total, 263 patients who were diagnosed with an anastomotic leak after esophagectomy
and underwent endoscopy examination were included in this study. First, all patients
were divided into two groups based on a single criteria—whether they received endoscopy
intervention or not—and comparisons were conducted between the two groups. Second,
we categorized all patients into three groups based on the diameter of the anastomotic
leak (group I: <5 mm; group II: 5–15 mm; group III: >15 mm). Detailed analyses were
made for each group. Factors we considered included demographic factors, the length
of postoperative hospital stay, the amount of medical expenditure, limited days of
oral intake, and the incurrence of complications. Data relating to those factors were
collected and then analyzed using standard statistic tools.
Results In general, the difference between endoscopy intervention and conservative measure
was significant. Moreover, the hospital stay (p < 0.001; p = 0.018), medical expenditure (p < 0.001; p = 0.003), limited days of oral intake (p < 0.001; p = 0.019), and postoperative complications such as hemorrhage (p < 0.001; p = 0.036), tracheoesophageal fistula (p = 0.002; p = 0.017), and anastomosis stricture (p = 0.03; p = 0.026) were significantly lower among patients who received endoscopy intervention
in groups II and III. However, no significant difference was identified between endoscopy
intervention and conservative measure in group I.
Conclusions Endoscopy intervention is safe and effective in the diagnosis and treatment of postesophagectomy
anastomotic leak. Especially for patients with a diameter of anastomotic leaks greater
than 5 mm, the advantages of endoscopy intervention should not be neglected.
Keywords
esophageal surgery - quality of life - surgery - complications
