Transcervical gastric tube drainage facilitates patient mobility and reduces the risk of pulmonary complications after esophagectomy.

Background: Standard nasogastric decompression following esophagectomy is associated with reduced patient comfort and mobility and impaired hypopharyngeal function--predisposing the patient to sinusitis, pharyngitis, and the risk of aspiration. In this study, we evaluate the results of the transcervical gastric tube drainage in the setting of esophagectomy.

Methods: Transcervical gastric tube decompression was performed on 145 consecutive patients undergoing open esophagectomy between 2003 and 2007.