Background: We investigated the clinical influence of anastomotic leak (AL) on esophageal cancer survival and recurrence after curative surgery. Patients and Methods: This study included 122 patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer between 2008 and 2018. The patients were classified into those with AL and those without. The risk factors for overall (OS) and recurrence-free (RFS) survival were identified. Results: AL was found in 44 out of the 122 patients (36.1%). The respective OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 43.9% and 40.2% in the AL group and 63.9% and 53.2% in the non-AL group, which were significantly different (p=0.0049). In contrast, the respective RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 44. 8% and 29.8%, and 44.9% and 42.4%, which were not significantly different (p=0.2306). A multivariate analysis showed that AL was a significant independent risk factor for both poorer OS and RFS in patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer. Conclusion: To improve survival of patients with esophageal cancer, the surgical procedure, perioperative care and surgical strategy must be carefully planned in order to prevent AL.
Background/Aim: Postoperative pneumonia after esophageal cancer can lead to additional pain, prolonged hospital stay, and respiratory failure. These adverse events might lead to early recurrence and/or death. We investigated the influence of postoperative pneumonia on the esophageal cancer survival and recurrence after curative surgery. Patients and Methods: This study included 122 patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer between 2008 and 2018. The patients were classified into: i) those with postoperative pneumonia (pneumonia group) and ii) those without postoperative pneumonia (non-pneumonia group). The risk factors for the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. The rate of postoperative pneumonia was measured by the revised Uniform Pneumonia Score. Results: Postoperative complications were found in 34 of the 122 patients (27.9%). The OS rate at 5 years following surgery was 28.2% in the pneumonia group and 55.1% in the non-pneumonia group (p=0.006). The RFS rate at 5 years after surgery was 18.9% in the pneumonia group and 49.2% in the non-pneumonia group (p=0.061). A multivariate analysis showed that postoperative pneumonia was a significant independent risk factor for OS. Conclusion: The development of postoperative pneumonia was a risk factor for a decreased overall survival in patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer. The surgical procedure, perioperative care and surgical strategy should be carefully planned in order to avoid postoperative pneumonia.
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