Comparison of long-term quality of life outcomes between endoscopic vacuum therapy and other treatments for upper gastrointestinal leaks.

Background: While endoscopic vacuum assisted closure (EVAC) therapy is a validated treatment for gastrointestinal leaks, its impact on long-term quality of life (QoL) is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of successful EVAC management on long-term QoL outcomes.

Methods: An institutional review board approved prospectively maintained database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients undergoing treatment for gastrointestinal leaks between June 2012 and July 2022.