Background: After esophagectomy a swallowing abnormality is the predominant symptom for esophageal cancer. The aims of this study were to examine (i) oropharyngeal swallowing by comparing pre- and postoperative period, and (ii) the relationship between oropharyngeal swallowing and the alimentary reconstruction route after esophagectomy.
Patients and methods: We studied 27 patients in the upright position using videofluoroscopy in the lateral projection. Each patient was studied during 10 mL barium swallows in the pre- and post-operative period.
Results: Of the 27 patients studied, alimentary reconstruction with the retrosternal route (RS group) was performed in 8 patients, that with posterior mediastinal route (PM group) in 8 patients, and the intrathoracic (IT group) esophagogastrostomy inside the posterior mediastinum in 11 patients. With regard to the maximal extent of structural movement, the superior and anterior excursion of the hyoid bone was significantly reduced postoperatively among all groups. The maximal extent of the cricopharyngeal opening was significantly reduced postoperatively in the RS group, but not in the IT group. The changes in the peri-operative structural movement were the lowest in the RS group.
Conclusion: A new-onset oropharyngeal swallowing abnormality following retrosternal reconstruction after esophagectomy may have appeared because the change in the peri-operative movement was the lowest. The results of the swallowing evaluation using videofluoroscopy suggest that to avoid oropharyngeal swallowing abnormalities the intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis with posterior mediastinal route should be chosen as reconstruction after esophagectomy if possible.