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Impact of postoperative NSAIDs administration on anastomotic leak after esophago-gastric surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a feared complication of esophago-gastric surgery. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to treat postoperative pain. Previous analyses conveyed heterogeneous data for colorectal surgery with a tendency toward high risk for AL after NSAIDs administration. In the setting of upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery data are even more puzzled. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether an association exists between postoperative NSAIDs administration and AL after esophago-gastric surgery. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to November 2022. The included studies evaluated outcomes for NSAIDs vs. no NSAIDs administration after esophago-gastric surgery. The primary outcome was anastomotic leak (AL). Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess pooled effect size and relative inference. Six studies (43,784 patients) were included. The patient age ranged from 31 to 84 years, 82.4% were males and preoperative BMI ranged from 15 to 31 kg/m2. Esophagectomy was performed in 95% of patients. NSAIDs were administered in 18,075 (41.3%) patients. The cumulative incidence of AL was similar for NSAIDs vs. no NSAIDs (13.6% vs. 13.4%). The risk for postoperative AL was similar for NSAIDs vs. no NSAIDs administration (RR 1.49; 95% CI 0.81–2.75; p = 0.19). The cumulative incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding (0.36% vs. 0.39%), acute kidney injury (0.62% vs. 0.71%), and in-hospital mortality (2.39% vs. 2.66%) were comparable. NSAIDs administration for postoperative analgesia seems not associated with an increased risk for AL after esophago-gastric surgery.

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Acknowledgements

OGSA Group for Esophagogastric Surgery: Francesca Lombardo, Marta Cavalli, Michele Manara, Juxhin Guraj, Guglielmo Guerrazzi

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  1. Division of General Surgery, Department of Biomedical Science for Health, I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale Galeazzi–Sant’Ambrogio, University of Milan, Via C. Belgioioso N.173, 20151, Milan, Italy

    Alberto Aiolfi MD FACS FEBS (UGI), Gianluca Bonitta & Davide Bona

  2. Division of General Surgery, I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale Galeazzi–Sant’Ambrogio, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Giampiero Campanelli

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  1. Alberto Aiolfi MD FACS FEBS (UGI)
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  2. Gianluca Bonitta
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OGSA Group for Esophagogastric Surgery

  • Francesca Lombardo
  • , Marta Cavalli
  • , Michele Manara
  • , Juxhin Guraj
  •  & Guglielmo Guerrazzi

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AA, MM, JG and GG did the literature search. AA, GB, and DB formed the study design. Data collection done by AA, MM, FL, and MC. AA and GB analyzed the data. AA, GC, and DB interpreted the data. AA wrote the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alberto Aiolfi MD FACS FEBS (UGI).

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Aiolfi, A., Bonitta, G., Campanelli, G. et al. Impact of postoperative NSAIDs administration on anastomotic leak after esophago-gastric surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis. Updates Surg 75, 817–824 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-023-01515-6

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