End-to-side and end-to-end anastomoses give similar results in cervical oesophagogastrostomy.

OBJECTIVE

To find out if there were any differences in healing between end-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses for oesophagogastrostomy.

DESIGN

Open study with historical controls.

SETTING

University hospital, The Netherlands.

SUBJECTS: 28 patients with end-to-end and 90 patients with end-to-side anastomoses after transhiatal oesophagectomy and partial gastrectomy for cancer of the oesophagus or oesophagogastric junction, with gastric tube reconstruction and cervical anastomosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Leak and stricture rates, and the number of dilatations needed to relieve dysphagia.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in leak rates (end-to-end 4/28, 14%, and end-to-side 13/90, 14%) or anastomotic strictures (end-to-end 9/28, 32%, and end-to-side 26/90, 29%). The median number of dilatations needed to relieve dysphagia was 7 (1-33) after end-to-end and 9 (1-113) after end-to-side oesophagogastrostomy.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences between the two methods of suture of cervical oesophagogastrostomy when leakage, stricture, and number of dilatations were used as criteria of good healing.