Effect of thoracic versus cervical anastomosis on anastomotic leak among patients who undergo esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Objective: To assess the rate and effect of anastomotic leak among patients who undergo esophagectomy with either thoracic or cervical anastomosis after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Esophagectomy Data File. We included adult patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (2016-2017) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.