• Zhi-Qiang Wang, Yue-Quan Jiang, Wei Xu, Hua-Rong Cai, Zhi Zhang, Zhe Yin, and Qi Zhang.
• Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China.
• Int J Surg. 2018 May 1; 53: 221-229.

BackgroundAnastomotic leakage, fibrous stricture and gastro-oesophageal reflux are three major complications of gastro-oesophageal anastomosis, particularly in cervical anastomosis. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel cervical anastomosis technique (NA) by comparing it to traditional side-to-side anastomosis (SS) and end-to-side anastomosis using a circular stapler (CS) in terms of postoperative leakage, stricture and reflux.MethodsA total of 390 patients with thoracic oesophageal cancer underwent minimally invasive oesophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (192 with NA, 34 with SS and 164 with CS) in our institute from January 2013 and May 2016. A detailed description of the surgical procedure is provided, and the major postoperative complications, including postoperative leakage, stricture and reflux, were compared using a three-armed controlled study.ResultsThe anastomotic method was an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage, as well as stricture and reflux. The rate of anastomotic leakage of the NA group (1.0%) was significantly lower than that in the SS group (8.8%, P = 0.025) and in the CS group (8.5%, P = 0.001). The rate of anastomotic stricture in the NA group was not significantly different than that in the SS group (1.5% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.368) but was significantly lower than that in the CS group (1.5% vs. 18.9%, P < 0.001). The incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in the NA group was significantly lower than that in the SS group and the CS group (5.7% vs. 23.5% and 18.3%, P = 0.003 and 0.001, respectively).ConclusionJiang's anastomosis technique remarkably reduces the incidence of gastro-oesophageal anastomotic leakage, stricture and reflux, and it is a safe and effective technique for minimally invasive oesophagectomy.Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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