Risk factors for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in retrosternal reconstruction.

Background: Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is a fatal postoperative complication that can cause pulmonary embolism (PE). There have been few reports on the relationship between esophageal cancer and UEDVT. The aim of this study is to analyze the risk factors for UEDVT in esophageal cancer.

Methods: Seventy-five cases of thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent one-stage curative resection and reconstructive surgery from May 2019 to June 2022 were included. The stomach or ileocolon was selected as the reconstructive graft. All cases requiring chemotherapy were treated with a peripheral central venous catheter (PICC). To evaluate the width of the retrosternal space, the retrosternal ratio and the cross-sectional area of the graft intestine were measured at the level of the left brachiocephalic vein.

Results: UEDVT was observed in 11 patients (14.7%) and occurred only with gastric tube reconstruction (p = 0.02). The width of the retrosternal space was significantly different between the UEDVT and non-UEDVT groups (p = 0.002). The cross-sectional area of reconstructive organ was larger in the stomach than in the ileocolon (p < 0.01). Patients with a history of PICC insertion from the left side had a higher incidence of UEDVT (p = 0.025).

Conclusions: In esophagectomy, gastric tube reconstruction, a retrosternal ratio less than 0.16, and history of PICC insertion from the left side are risk factors for UEDVT.