A change in clinical practice: a partially stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis reduces morbidity and improves functional outcome after esophagectomy for cancer

Cervical esophagogastric anastomoses are commonly used for reconstruction after esophagectomy because of the lower mortality rate associated with an anastomotic leak compared to intrathoracic anastomoses. However, cervical esophagogastric anastomoses have been criticized for their higher leak rates, stricture formation and greater need for later dilatations when compared with intrathoracic anastomoses. Multiple studies have looked at varying techniques to improve the outcome of the cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. This study was performed to determine whether a partially stapled (posterior stapled wall and anterior hand-sewn wall) anastomosis reliably reduced leaks and the need for later dilatation. From January 2001 to March 2006, 168 patients who underwent cervical esophagogastric anastomosis following esophagectomy (transhiatal or three-hole) for cancer were identified. Beginning in September 2003, the partially stapled technique was introduced and used in 79 patients. Clinical outcomes were compared to patients in whom hand-sewn technique was used (n = 89). Outcomes related to anastomotic leak, other hospital complications, length of stay, postoperative dilatations and survival were compared using Student's t-tests and chi-square tests (P < 0.05), as well as multiple regression analyses. An anastomotic leak occurred in 10 (12.7%) patients who received a partially stapled anastomosis. A hand-sewn anastomosis was complicated by an anastomotic leak in 24 patients (27.0%). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.021). This lowered incidence of leak was associated with an earlier initiation of oral feeds (median 7 vs. 9.5 days, P < 0.001) and a reduction in hospital stay (median 10 vs. 15 days, P < 0.001). Furthermore, dysphagia associated with stricture requiring postoperative dilatations was markedly diminished in the stapled anastomosis [23 (31.3%) vs. 49 (55.1%), P = 0.001]. The partially stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leaks and the need for postoperative dilatation to treat strictures compared to the hand-sewn anastomosis.