Fluoroscopy guided double-guidewire tube placement in treating anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Objective: To evaluate the clinical application of double-guidewire tube placement under fluoroscopy in treating the anastomotic leakage alter esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Methods: Naso- intestinal feeding tube and gastrointestinal decompression tube were placed through double-guidewire under fluoroscopic guidance for 12 patients with anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. The technical success rate, average time for the procedure, complications and the cure rate of leakage were evaluated. Results: All tubes were placed successfully in 100% technically, together with procedure time from 5 to 8 min (mean 6 min) for each patients. Complications related to procedure and tube placement such as arrhythmia, malpositioning, aspiration pneumonia and epiglottic dysfunction did not occur. Of the 12 patients, 10 were cured at 17-37d (mean 28 d) and 2 died. Conclusion: Fluoroscopy guided double-guidewire tube placement is easy and safe; promoting the cure rate of anastomotic leakage after esophageetomy. (authors)