This Medical Video: Maintaining sufficient blood flow to the gastric tube after a
subtotal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is crucial for
decreasing the esophagogastric anastomotic leakage. After subtotal
esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, to additionally revascularize
the gastric tube using the splenic artery a...nd vein, external
carotid artery, and internal jugular vein, the supercharge technique
was performed in esophageal reconstruction patients. Operative
results of these patients (supercharge group) were retrospectively
compared with those of patients not receiving the technique (control
group). Both operation time and operative blood loss in the
supercharge group were significantly longer and larger than those of
the control group. However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage was
significantly lower in the supercharge group than in the control
group, and a 30-day reduction in the mean postoperative hospital
stay was achieved with the supercharge group. This practical
supercharge technique could be a breakthrough less to reduce leakage
during esophageal anastomosis.