Abstract
Abstract To explore the comprehensive role of systemic endoscopic intervention in healing esophageal anastomotic leak. To our knowledge, this paper is the first to discuss the outcome of anastomotic leaks and the association with healing time rather than whether the leak was fully healed. Methods In total, 3919 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy and immediate esophageal reconstruction between January 2012 and August 2019 at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center were screened. In total, 203 patients (5.10%) diagnosed with postoperative anastomotic leakage were included. The participants were divided into three groups according to differences in diagnosis and treatment procedures. Ninety-four patients received conventional management, 87 patients received endoscopic diagnosis only, and the remaining 22 patients received systematic endoscopic intervention, including transnasal inner drainage, endoscopic fibrin glue repair and endoscopic clipping. The primary endpoint was overall healing of the leak after oncologic esophageal surgery. Results In total, 173 (85.2%; 95% CI, 80.3–90.1%) of the 203 patients were successfully healed, with a mean healing time of 64.42 ± 3.82 days (median: 51 days; range: 13 368 days), and the overall healing rates differed significantly among the three groups according to the stratified log-rank test (P < 0.001). The median healing time of leakage was 44 days (95% CI: 27.15–60.86 days) in the endoscopic intervention group, 51 days (95% CI: 44.86–57.14 days) in the endoscopic diagnostic group, and 66 days (95% CI: 58.09–73.91 days) in the conventional group. Conclusion Tailored endoscopic treatment for postoperative esophageal anastomotic leakage based on endoscopic diagnosis is feasible and effective. Systematic endoscopic intervention shortened the treatment period and reduced mortality and should therefore be considered in the management of this disease.
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