title: Treatment of esophagogastric anastomotic leak with perianastomotic drain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most efficient treatment of such anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy remains controversial. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of perianastomotic drains in anastomotic leaks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with intrathoracic anastomotic leaks had placement of perianastomotic drains through remanet esophagus and fitula into infected area. The other conservative methods of treatment were also chosen simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perianastomotic drains were placed successfully in all five patients. None of the patients underwent rethoracotomy. They were all cured. The median period to clinical healing was 33 days. The median hospital stay after the perianastomotic drainage procedure was 37 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This procedure proved to be safe and effective in the treatment of esophagogastric anastomotic leak with perianastomotic drain through fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracosurgery, Henan Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ruixiang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Guolei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baoxing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome