Vascular calcification does not predict anastomotic leak or conduit necrosis following oesophagectomy

Table 6 Summary of existing literature

Author (Year)	Type of Oesophagecto-my	n1	Anastomotic leak rate	Conduit ischaemia rate	Arterial vessels assessed	Association with anastomotic leakage or gastric conduit necrosis	Definition of anastomotic leak
van Rossum et al[7], 2015	3-stage	246	24%	NA	Aorta, coeliac trunk, right and left post-coeliac arteries	Aorta and right post coeliac calcification associated with leakage	Defined by either extravasation of water-soluble contrast material during a contrast material swallow study or CT scan, visualization of anastomotic dehiscence or fistulae during endoscopy, or visible loss of saliva through the cervical wound
Zhao et al[8], 2016	3-stage	709	17.20%	NA	Aorta, coeliac trunk, right and left post-coeliac arteries	Aorta and coeliac artery calcifications associated with leakage	Anastomotic leakage was clinically suspected, a CT scan, water-soluble contrast swallow study or endoscopy was performed
Goense et al[9], 2016	2-stage	167	24%	NA	Aorta, coeliac trunk, right and left post-coeliac arteries	Aortic calcification associated with leakage	Clinical signs of leakage from a thoracic drain, radiologic signs of leakage, including contrast leakage or fluid and air levels surrounding the anastomosis, or signs of anastomotic dehiscence during endoscopy or reoperation
Lainas et al[12], 2017	2-Stage	481	NA	2.10%	Coeliac Trunk	Extrinsic and intrinsic stenosis of the coeliac artery associated with gastric conduit necrosis	NA
Chang et al[10], 2018	2-stage	164	8.50%	NA	Aorta, coeliac trunk, right and left post-coeliac arteries	Calcification showed no association with leakage, coeliac trunk stenosis was associated with leakage	Anastomotic dehiscence confirmed during endoscopy or operation
Borggreve et al[11], 2018	3-stage	406	25.60%	NA	Coronary, supra-aortic, thoracic aorta, coeliac axis, abdominal arota, common iliac external iliac arteries; aortic valve	Calcification of coronary arteries, supra-aortic arteries, and thoracic aorta associated with leakage	Visible loss of saliva through the cervical wound, extravasation of water-soluble contrast material during a contrast swallow study or CT scan, or visualization of anastomotic dehiscence or fistulae during endoscopy or surgical re-intervention

¹Number of patients included in the study. CT: Computed tomography; NA: Not reported.