Preoperative proton pump inhibitor therapy and anastomotic leak after esophagectomy – A new perspective

Purpose Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are indispensable in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers or for the prevention of stress ulcers after major abdominal surgery. However, long-term PPI therapy leads to several side effects such as delayed gastric emptying and distinct changes in mucosal histology. Therefore, this retrospective study aims to evaluate the impact of preoperative PPI therapy on the anastomotic leak rate after esophagectomy. Methods A retrospective, single-center analysis was conducted for all patients treated with esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction between January 2016 and November 2024. Preoperative treatment with PPIs, as well as patient comorbidities, histopathological findings and surgical techniques were noted. Subsequently, a group-wise comparison was carried out for the differences in anastomotic leak rate and postoperative complications in patients with and without preoperative PPI therapy. Finally, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for the occurrence of anastomotic leak. Results A total of 229 patients were included in the study. The group-wise comparison revealed a significantly higher rate of anastomotic leaks and postoperative complications in patients with preoperative PPI therapy compared to those without. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a 2.5-fold increased risk of anastomotic leaks in patients with preoperative PPI therapy compared to patients without. Conclusion Preoperative PPI therapy may represent a modifiable risk factor for the development of anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy. Further prospective, interventional studies are necessary to verify the results. Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered in the German clinical trial database (Application number: DRKS00035536, Registration date: 03.12.2024).