Immediate Postoperative High Syndecan-1 is Associated with Short-Term Morbidity and Mortality After Robot-Assisted Esophagectomy: A Prospective Observational Study

Background Disruption of the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is associated with a poor prognosis in various clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the association between immediate postoperative serum syndecan-1 levels, a representative marker for EG degradation, and major postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing robot-assisted esophagectomy. Methods Patients who underwent robot-assisted esophagectomy between 2018 and 2022 were prospectively enrolled. The primary outcome was the association between immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels and the occurrence of major postoperative morbidity and mortality within 30 days of surgery. Patients were classified into low and high syndecan-1 groups based on the optimal cut-off value of syndecan-1 for predicting major morbidity and mortality. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors for major morbidity and mortality. Results A total of 207 patients were analyzed. Patients with high syndecan-1 levels (≥48 ng/mL) showed a significantly greater incidence of unexpected returns to the operating room and anastomotic leaks and longer durations of hospital and intensive care unit stays than patients with low syndecan-1 levels (<48 ng/mL). Immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels ≥48 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–4.76), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥III (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.56–7.22), and current smoker (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.52–10.61) were independently associated with major morbidity and mortality within 30 days of esophagectomy. Conclusions Immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels ≥48 ng/mL could be used for the early detection of patients at high risk of complications after robot-assisted esophagectomy.