Application of Oesophagogastric Cervical Mechanical Anastomosis in Oesophagectomy for Cancer.

We aimed to explore the safety and the feasibility of the application of digestive tract-specific circular anastomats in oesophagogastric cervical anastomosis after oesophagectomy for cancer. We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 241 patients undergoing oesophagogastric cervical anastomosis using disposable circular staplings after oesophagectomy in the People's Hospital of Henan Province, from August 2009 to July 2012. A total of 240 patients were anastomosed successfully. One patient had a partially torn oesophagus and underwent repair because the wrong stapler size was used. No operative death occurred. Seven patients (2.9 %) had postoperative cervical anastomotic leakage but recovered after short-term conservative treatment, and three patients had obvious gastro-oesophageal reflux after eating. No intrathoracic anastomotic leakage or other anastomotic instrument-related complications occurred. During a median follow-up period of 13.8 months, no anastomotic stricture was found in each patient. The application of oesophagogastric cervical anastomosis using circular anastomat after oesophagectomy for cancer was safe and feasible.