title: Risk factors for development of benign cervical strictures after esophagectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify independent risk factors for development of benign cervical anastomotic strictures in general and specifically for refractory strictures after esophagectomy in a large series of patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Benign strictures develop frequently when a cervical anastomosis is performed after esophagectomy, causing burdensome symptoms and poor quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1996 to 2006, all patients in the Academic Medical Center prospective database undergoing esophagectomy with a cervical anastomosis were included. Stricture was defined as dysphagia requiring endoscopic dilation of the anastomosis. Prediction of stricture was assessed using uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Evaluation of risk factors was also performed for refractory strictures (>2 times the median number of dilations in all patients with stricture) in a similar fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 607 patients underwent potentially curative esophagectomy, with an in-hospital mortality of 2.5%. During follow-up, 253 (41.7%) patients developed a stricture after a median time of 74 days, requiring a median number of 5 dilations. Cardiovascular disease (P = 0.002), gastric tube compared with colonic interposition (P = 0.03), and anastomotic leakage (P = 0.002) were predictive for development of stricture in multivariate analysis. Development of stricture within 90 days after surgery (P = 0.001), chemoradiotherapy (P = 0.02), and anastomotic leakage (P = 0.03) were independent predictors for refractory strictures requiring over 10 dilations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The benign cervical stricture rate after esophagectomy was relatively high. Cardiovascular disease, gastric tube compared with colonic interposition and postoperative anastomotic leakage were independent predictors for development of benign anastomotic stricture. Anastomotic leakage, chemoradiotherapy and early development of stricture were independently associated with the development of refractory strictures, requiring a higher number of dilations. Prevention of anastomotic stricture formation should be focused on prevention of anastomotic leakage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Heijl
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gooszen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fockens
authors.forename: Olivier R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: J Jan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Lanschot
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: van Berge Henegouwen
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004106:Dilatation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors