To illustrate the role of Interventional Radiology (IR) in the management of complications after esophageal surgery.

Regardless of the surgical technique used, esophageal resection is a high-risk procedure associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Among all elective gastrointestinal surgical interventions, esophagectomy has the highest mortality rate, ranging from 3%–22% (1). Despite during the last years this technique and the perioperatory management have improved, the incidence of post-surgery complications remains high, especially whether the procedure is performed in a low volume center. Different interventionist procedures (such as percutaneous drain abscess or fluid collection aspiration) have been introduced to the clinical practice as...

IR provides a minimally invasive alternative for the management of post-surgery complications. Different interventionist procedures have been introduced to the clinical practice as an efficient way to solve the complications, often avoiding the need for repeat surgical intervention. Postoperative complications can be broadly grouped into pulmonary problems, anastomotic leaks, and technical, functional, or delayed complications (Table 1). Management of Anastomotic leak: Percutaneous drainage and covered metallic esophageal stents. Anastomotic leak occur in 10%–44% of postoperative patients and account for as much as 40% of postoperative...

Interventional radiology plays an increasing, crucial role in the prevention and multidisciplinary treatment of complications due to esophageal surgery, providing a minimally invasive treatment also in critical patients, reducing both hospitalization and recovery time and avoiding the morbility associated to re-interventions. Interventional procedures such as percutaneus drainage of fluid collections, arterial and thoracic duct embolization, and esophageal balloon dilation or stent placement for esophageal strictures, are viable and safe therapeutic options with fewer complications compared with re-look surgery, with a shorter hospital stay and faster...

1. Flanagan, J., Batz, R., Saboo, S., Nordeck, S., Abbara, S., Kernstine, K. and Vasan, V. (2016). Esophagectomy and Gastric Pull-through Procedures: Surgical Techniques, Imaging Features, and Potencial Complications. RadioGraphics, 36(1), pp.107-121. 2. Roy-Choudhury, S., Nicholson, A., Wedgwood, K., Mannion, R., Sedman, P., Royston, C. and Breen, D. (2001). Symptomatic Malignant Gastroesophageal Anastomotic Leak. American Journal of Roentgenology, 176(1), pp.161-165. 3. Ghelfi, J., Brichon, P., Frandon, J., Boussat, B., Bricault, I., Ferretti, G., Guigard, S. and Sengel, C. (2017). Ischemic Gastric Conditioning by Preoperative Arterial...