Utility of Thermography of Reconstructed Gastric Conduit for Predicting Postoperative Anastomotic Leakage After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Background and aim: Anastomotic leakage, the most common major complication after esophagectomy, is an important early postoperative complication that results in reoperation, delayed discharge, and psychological and financial distress. The current study focused on gastric conduit blood flow and investigated the relationship between gastric conduit temperature and anastomotic leakage.

Patients and methods: Between July 2015 and December 2017, a total of 51 patients aged 38 to 84 years who underwent esophagectomy followed by esophagogastric anastomosis with gastric conduit reconstruction were enrolled. Thermography was then used to measure the temperature of the intact stomach and gastric conduit before anastomosis.

Results: The temperature of the planned site of gastric conduit anastomosis was significantly inversely correlated with anastomotic leakage, with the receiver operator characteristic curve showing a cutoff point of 27.6°C for predicting anastomotic leakage.

Conclusion: The temperature of the planned gastric tube anastomosis line should be kept at 27.6°C or higher to reduce anastomotic leakage.

Keywords: Gastric conduit; anastomotic leakage; thermography.