Linear stapled techniques reduce anastomotic leakage post-esophagectomy.

A study of 1,518 patients undergoing robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy identified significant differences in anastomotic leakage rates among various surgical techniques. The linear stapled side-to-side anastomosis had the lowest leakage rate at 14.0%, while the handsewn end-to-end method had the highest at 32.8%. Both univariable and multivariable analyses confirmed that handsewn techniques carried a higher risk of leakage compared to circular end-to-side techniques, suggesting a preference for mechanical stapling in clinical practice.