NCT07043491

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

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 2 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This retrospective cohort study reviewed patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy. All patients routinely underwent either endoscopy or esophagram for the evaluation of anastomosis on postoperative day 7. The initiation of oral intake depended on the status of anastomosis according to the assessment result of endoscopy or esophagram. All patients were followed up for six months after the assessment of anastomosis.

Detailed description

This retrospective cohort study reviewed patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy. All patients routinely underwent either endoscopy or esophagram for the evaluation of anastomosis on postoperative day 7. The initiation of oral intake depended on the status of anastomosis according to the assessment result of endoscopy or esophagram. The patients whose esophagram indicated an intact anastomosis or whose endoscopy revealed a good healing anastomosis were allowed to initiate oral intake. While the patients whose endoscopy revealed a poor healing anastomosis were monitored with a repeat endoscopy weekly and these patients were delayed for oral intake until the repeat endoscopy revealed a good healing anastomosis. All patients were followed up for six months after the assessment of anastomosis. The primary endpoints were the efficacy of the evaluation of anastomosis, which included the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for AL, the accuracy of the evaluation of anastomosis, and the incidence of AL after oral intake. Cases of AL that were found after the previous assessment were regarded as missed diagnoses when the sensitivity was calculated. The secondary endpoints included the time from surgery to AL diagnosis, the time required for AL healing, and safety profile.

Conditions

• Esophageal Cancer
• Surgery-Complications

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Endoscopy	We first observed the residual esophagus to evaluate the mucosal color. We then reached the top of the anastomosis to obtain a full view of the anastomosis to exclude obvious leakage around that site. We next conducted a more detailed endoscopic examination at a close focal distance, circumferentially around the anastomosis. During this process, we utilized saline solution to meticulously remove white fibrin coverings and bloodstains to the greatest extent possible to ensure a thorough evaluation of anastomotic integrity. Finally, we inspected the staple line of the tubularized stomach to exclude gastric fistula and assessed the perfusion of the gastric graft. Endoscopic findings were assessed by an additional endoscopist and 3 esophageal surgeons during the examination, as well as by reviewing captured images or videos after endoscopy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-04
• Primary completion: 2025-07-09
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2025-06-29
• Last updated: 2025-06-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China