title: Impact of the Level of Anastomosis on Reflux Esophagitis Following Esophagectomy with Gastric Tube Reconstruction.
abstract: Among patients who undergo gastric tube reconstruction after esophagectomy, it is generally accepted that the incidence of reflux esophagitis (RE) is significantly lower in patients with neck anastomosis than in those with intrathoracic anastomosis. However, the true impact of the level of anastomosis on RE currently remains unclear.
  
  
  
  We examined 53 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent radical esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction and neck anastomosis. The level of anastomosis was assessed by measuring the distance from the sternal notch to the stapled ring by computed tomography. The relative level of anastomosis was calculated by the distance from the sternal notch to the most caudal side of the stapled ring (mm)/height (cm).
  
  
  
  The relative level of anastomosis in 30 (56.6%) patients showed <0, which indicated that anastomosis in these patients was located at a lower level than the sternal notch. The mean relative level of anastomosis was significantly lower in patients with RE (grade A to D) than in those without RE (grade N) (-0.062 vs. -0.012 mm/cm, respectively; p = 0.043). RE was more severe with a lower relative level of anastomosis (p for trends = 0.044).
  
  
  
  The level of anastomosis in patients with gastric tube reconstruction following esophagectomy was associated with the incidence of RE. The displacement of anastomosis into the thoracic cavity was detected in approximately half of the patients with neck anastomosis. RE was more severe with a lower level of anastomosis, even in patients with neck anastomosis.
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. maksakai@gunma-u.ac.jp.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Sakai
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Sohda
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Tomonori
authors: T
authors: Yoshida
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Kumakura
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Honjo
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Keigo
authors: K
authors: Hara
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Takehiko
authors: T
authors: Yokobori
authors: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000209:etiology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D013909:Thorax