It remains unclear what is the ideal conduit shape. The aim of this study was to evaluate association between specific gastric conduit morphology, considering width and length, with its perfusion and the incidence of anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy.
Methods: Patients who underwent an esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis between 2015 and 2021 were evaluated. Indocyanine green angiography was performed to evaluate gastric conduit perfusion, and ingress index (arterial inflow) and ingress time (venous outflow) were measured. The conduit width at the middle of the conduit and the short gastric length as the length from the last gastroepiploic branch to the perfusion assessment point were measured.
Propensity score matching was performed to compare wide conduits with narrow conduits. Narrow and wide conduits were defined as < 4 and ≥ 5 cm, respectively. Conclusions: Conduit width is a significant factor of gastric conduit perfusion, especially when the estimated anastomotic site was > 5 cm from the last gastroepiploic branch. Wide conduits seem to have better perfusion and creating a wider conduit might reduce anastomotic leaks.
