Intraluminal migration of surgical drains after transhiatal esophagogastrectomy: radiographic findings and clinical relevance.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of our study were to review our experience with a group of patients in whom contrast examinations after transhiatal esophagogastrectomy and gastric pull-through revealed intraluminal migration of a surgical drain and to describe the radiographic appearance and clinical relevance of this phenomenon.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that intraluminal migration of a surgical drain after transhiatal esophagogastrectomy is an infrequent but serious phenomenon that hinders or prevents healing of an anastomotic leak. Radiologists should be aware of this phenomenon and should be able to recognize the findings of an intraluminal drain on contrast examinations. When such drains are identified, we believe that they should be promptly withdrawn or removed to facilitate healing of anastomotic leaks.
Wilmot
Andrew S H
AS
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Levine
Marc S
MS
Rubesin
Stephen E
SE
Kucharczuk
John C
JC
Laufer
Igor
I
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies