Anastomotic Leak Testing in Gastrectomy

Efifcacy and Safety of Anastomotic Leak Testing in Gastric Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Anastomotic leak after radical gastrectomy is a serious complication. Intraoperative leak testing was often used to assess the integrity of the anastomosis. However, the reliability, clinical benefits and safety of intraoperative leak testing are controversial. Our aim is to evaluate the effect and safety of intraoperative leak testing, and to compare the surgical complications of patients in intraoperative leak testing group with patients in non-intraoperative leak testing group.

Anastomotic leak after radical gastrectomy is a serious complication. Intraoperative leak testing was often used to assess the integrity of the anastomosis. However, the reliability, clinical benefits and safety of intraoperative leak testing are controversial. Our aim is to evaluate the effect and safety of intraoperative leak testing, and to compare the surgical complications of patients in intraoperative leak testing group with patients in non-intraoperative leak testing group. patients underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, with esophagojejunostomy reconstruction.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. resectable gastric carcinoma according to the eighth edition of the TNM (clinical stages I-III).
2. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1.
3. American Society of Anesthesiologists class of I-III.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients had distant metastasis.
2. presence of obvious contraindications to surgery (e.g., liver and/or kidney function abnormalities).
3. any participation in another clinical trial within the past 6 months.
4. Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy for any other malignancies.
5. past history of gastric resection, gastric cancer-related complications, other malignancy diagnosed within the previous 5 years,