Study Comparing Endoscopy and Esophagram to Check Healing After McKeown Esophagectomy Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of endoscopy and esophagram to routinely check the healing of anastomosis after McKeown esophagectomy, a surgical procedure for esophageal cancer. This retrospective cohort study aims to compare the effectiveness of these two methods in detecting anastomotic leaks and their accuracy in assessing healing. Patients were monitored for six months following the anastomosis assessment to understand healing progress and complications. Patients were divided into two groups. One group underwent endoscopy on postoperative day 7, where detailed examination of the anastomosis was performed, including cleaning the area for clear view and inspecting for leaks or poor healing. If poor healing was found, weekly repeat endoscopies delayed oral intake until improvement. The other group underwent esophagram on postoperative day 7, and if the anastomosis appeared intact, oral intake was started. This study assessed how the evaluation method affected the timing of oral intake after surgery. During the study, patients healing and complications were tracked through the endoscopy or esophagram results, with follow-up lasting six months. Researchers measured the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for detecting leaks, and the incidence of leaks after starting oral intake. Secondary outcomes included the time from surgery to leak diagnosis and the time needed for leaks to heal. Safety and accuracy of the evaluation methods were also monitored throughout the follow-up period.

Comparison of Endoscopy and Esophagram for the Routine Evaluation of Anastomosis After McKeown Esophagectomy