The width of a gastric tube has no impact on outcome after esophagectomy.

Background: We evaluated the impact of the size of gastric tubes on tissue blood flow of the anastomotic site, the frequency of leakage and the postoperative nutritional status.

Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly allocated to either reconstruction using subtotal stomach (n = 22) or to reconstruction using slender gastric tube (n = 22) after esophagectomy. The tissue blood flow at the anastomotic site was measured. The postoperative nutritional status of 17 patients without recurrence was examined. Possible correlations between the type of esophageal substitute and the tendency to leakage as well as postoperative nutritional status were examined.

Results: There was no significant difference in the tissue blood and the frequency of leakage between the types of gastric tubes. There was no significant difference noted between the two in the postoperative nutritional status at 6 and 12 months after operation.

Conclusions: The width of gastric tube has no impact on tissue blood flow, the frequency of leakage, and the postoperative nutritional status after esophagectomy.