Analysis of risk factors for gastrointestinal fistula after esophageal cancer surgery
Objective To investigate the risk factors for gastrointestinal fistula after esophageal cancer surgery.Methods The clinical data of 437 patients who underwent esophagectomy in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether gastrointestinal fistula occurred after operation,they were divided into the study group(n=157)and the control group(n=280).The related risk factors of the ocurrence of postoperative gastrointestinal fistula were screened by univariate and multivariate analyses.Results The results of the univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences of patients between the two groups in terms of operation time,anastomotic site,tumor location,tumor infiltration depth,surgical method,pleural adhesion,reinforcement suture of anastomotic stoma,post-operative pulmonary infection,and postoperative incision infection(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pleural adhesion,operation time≥4.5 hours,postoperative pulmonary infection,and postoperative incision infection were independent risk factors for the occurence of postoperative gastrointestinal fistula(P<0.05).The reinforcement suture of anastomotic stoma and the increase of the first postoperative hemoglobin level were independent protective factors for the occurrence of postoperative gastrointestinal fistula(P<0.05).Conclusion Controlling operation time,applying active anti-infection measures,implementing dressing changes,taking reinforcement suture of anastomotic stoma,and correcting of anemia may help to reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal fistulas after esophagectomy.