Delayed cervical anastomosis of the esophagus for esophageal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The surgical approach for patients with advanced epidermoid esophageal carcinoma should provide an effective palliative effect with morbidity ratio as low as possible. Anastomotic leakage is a frequent complication and may be responsible for both early and late morbidity and, therefore, we assessed the role of delayed cervical esophagovisceral anastomosis technique in relation to the incidence of anastomotic complications.


METHODS
Eight patients (Group 1) and 12 patients (Group 2) submitted to one-stage or two-stage operation, respectively, were selected by an intraoperative assessment by the surgeon, considering mainly tissue blood flow of the replacement organ after its placement in the cervical region.


RESULTS
In Group 1 anastomotic dehiscence was observed in 37.5% of patients, while in Group 2 no cases of dehiscence occurred (p = 0.049). However, the postoperative mortality rate did not differ between the two groups (12.5% versus 0%, NS).


CONCLUSIONS
When organ viability is uncertain, esophagovisceral anastomosis is best done by two-stage operation, since it decreases the incidence of anastomotic leak.
Gurski
R R
RR
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Schirmer
C C
CC
Toneto
J E
JE
Rosa
A R
AR
Toniazzo
G P
GP
Fasolo
G R
GR
Kruel
C D
CD
Brentano
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors