The evaluation of the hemodynamics of a gastric tube in esophagectomy using a new noninvasive blood flow evaluation device utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy.

Objective: We herein evaluated the hemodynamics of a gastric tube in esophagectomy using a new noninvasive blood flow evaluation device utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy.

Methods: Thirty-two cases of subtotal esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer were studied. The new device measures the regional tissue saturation of oxygen (rSO: 0-99%) and total hemoglobin index (T-HbI: 0-1.0) with a small sensor. We measured these values at the antrum (point A), final branch of the right gastroepiploic artery (point B) and planned anastomotic point (point C) before and after gastric tube formation. The values at the three points were compared, and the gradients at the three points from before to after gastric tube formation were compared.

Results: The mean values of rSO at point A, B, and C before gastric tube formation were 57.2%, 57.8% and 56.0%, and those after formation were 54.6%, 58.0% and 55.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the comparison of the rSO gradient before and after formation (p = 0.167). The mean values of T-HbI at point A, B, and C before formation were 0.126, 0.178 and 0.211, and those after formation were 0.167, 0.247 and 0.292, respectively. There was no significant difference in the gradient of the increase before and after formation (p = 0.461).

Conclusion: A new device has shown that the gastric tube used in our facility is one that maintains tissue saturation of oxygen and does not cause excessive congestion at anastomosis.