Relationship of Venous Blood Gas With Cervical Esophagogastric Anastomotic Leak Publisher Pubmed



Mohajeri G¹ ; Tabatabaei A¹ ; Hashemi M¹ ; Bistgani MM²
Source: Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals Published:2012

Abstract

Objective: this study investigated the relationship between various parameters of venous blood gas analysis of gastric fundus veins and cervical esophagogastric anastomotic leaks after transhiatal esophagectomy. Background: decreased tissue perfusion is one of the causes of anastomotic leak. There are various methods used to assess gastric conduit perfusion, with different results, and we lack a reliable method. Method: this descriptive study, performed from March 2008 to October 2010, consisted of 45 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy. After gastrolysis, blood samples were taken from a gastric fundus vein and submitted for venous blood gas analysis. The cervical wounds were examined 5 days postoperatively. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of leakage, and mean values of the venous blood gas analysis were compared. Results: we observed significant differences in mean pH, PCO2, and O2 saturation between the 2 groups (p = 0.04, p = 0.03, and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: venous blood gas analysis of gastric fundus veins appears to be a feasible and fast method for intraoperative assessment of microperfusion in the gastric fundus. © The Author(s) 2012.