Ulcer Scarring in the Gastric Conduit Is a Risk Factor for Anastomotic Leakage After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Background Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious complication after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for AL. Methods Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastric anastomosis between 2009 and 2019 ( N = 346) and those between 2020 and 2022 ( N = 17) were enrolled in the study to identify the risk factors for AL and the study to assess the association between the risk factors and blood flow in the gastric conduit evaluated by indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging, respectively. Results AL occurred in 17 out of 346 patients (4.9%). Peptic or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) ulcer scars were independently associated with AL (OR 6.872, 95% CI 2.112–22.365) in addition to diabetes mellitus. The ulcer scars in the anterior/posterior gastric wall were more frequently observed in patients with AL than in those without AL (75.0% vs. 17.4%, P = 0.042). The median flow velocity of ICG fluorescence in the gastric conduits with the scars was significantly lower than in those without the scars (1.17 cm/s vs. 2.23 cm/s, P = 0.004). Conclusions Peptic or ESD ulcer scarring is a risk factor for AL after esophagectomy in addition to diabetes mellitus. The scars in the anterior/posterior gastric wall are significantly associated with AL, impairing blood flow of the gastric conduit. Preventive interventions and careful postoperative management should be provided to minimize the risk and severity of AL in patients with these risk factors.