Multicenter retrospective analysis of complications and risk factors in endoscopic resection for esophageal cancer across Japan.

Abstract

Background: Endoscopic resection (ER) is a minimally invasive treatment for esophageal cancer that sometimes causes complications. To understand the real-world incidence and risk factors for these complications, a nationwide survey was conducted across Japan.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients who underwent ER for esophageal cancer from April 2017 to March 2018 (2017 complication analysis) and April 2021 to March 2022 (2021 complication analysis). The study assessed the complication rates and conducted risk factor analyses for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using data for these patients, with exclusions based on specific criteria to ensure data accuracy.

Results: In the 2021 complication analysis, there were two mortalities highly likely attributable (0.03%) to ER and one mortality possibly attributable (0.01%) to ER. Intraoperative perforation, delayed bleeding, and pneumonia occurred in 137 cases (1.8%), 44 cases (0.6%), and 130 cases (1.7%), respectively. In the multivariate analysis for complications after ESD, low ER volume of the facility was an independent risk factor for perforation, while lesion location in the cervical or upper thoracic esophagus was an independent factor for reduced risk of perforation. Age ≥ 80 years was a risk factor for pneumonia, while use of traction techniques was a factor for reduced risk of pneumonia. Lesions located in the middle thoracic esophagus had a lower risk of stricture, and the risk of stricture increased as the circumferential extent of the lesion increased.

Conclusions: This large-scale study provided detailed insights into the complications associated with esophageal ER and identified significant risk factors.