Esophagogastric anastomotic leakage.

Anastomotic leakage of esophagogastric anastomoses can be prevented by administering adequate preoperative nutritional support and by employing mechanical circular staplers. In a series of 299 intrathoracic anastomoses, 35 leakages were observed, 11 of which gave asymptomatic radiological findings. In a series of 46 cervical anastomoses, nine leakages were observed. In the majority of cases conservative treatment was adopted. This is based upon external drainage of septic collections, gastric emptying, antibiotics and intensive nutritional care. The mortality rate in cases of anastomotic fistulas was 1.74% (6 patients) in the patients with esophagogastric anastomoses.