Subscribe to RSS

DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811523
Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy: A Boon for the Patients with Post-surgical Anastomotic Site Leaks

Abstract
Postoperative leaks remain a significant clinical problem with high morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, image-guided pigtail drain placement for collections, feeding tube placement for nutrition, clips or clip–loop combinations for defect closure, surgical repair with buttressing, excision of esophageal conduit and colonic interposition for esophageal leaks, colostomy, and revision of anastomosis for colorectal leaks are often employed. Recently, endoscopic vacuum therapy has gained popularity due to being a minimally invasive, safe, and effective therapeutic option. In this news and views, we will review studies and literature related to this topic.
Publication History
Article published online:
22 August 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India
-
References
- 1
Vetter D,
Gutschow CA.
Strategies to prevent anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and gastric conduit
reconstruction. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2020; 405 (08) 1069-1077
MissingFormLabel
- 2
Li YW,
Lian P,
Huang B.
et al.
Very early colorectal anastomotic leakage within 5 post-operative days: a more severe
subtype needs relaparatomy. Sci Rep 2017; 7: 39936
MissingFormLabel
- 3
Kim KB,
Kim S-W,
Kim D.
et al.
An endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure technique modified through the overtube for
patients with esophageal anastomotic leaks. Clin Surg 2021; 6: 3302
MissingFormLabel
- 4
Sundaram S,
Puri R,
Niyogi D.
et al.
Modified low-cost EndoVac is safe and efficacious for treatment of postoperative leaks
even at low pressures. Surg Endosc 2025; 39 (08) 4857-4862
MissingFormLabel
- 5
Monino L,
Moreels TG.
Endoscopic vacuum therapy of upper gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks: how to deal
with the challenges (with video). Life (Basel) 2023; 13 (06) 1412
MissingFormLabel
- 6
Loske G,
Schorsch T,
Müller C.
Endoscopic vacuum sponge therapy for esophageal defects. Surg Endosc 2010; 24 (10)
2531-2535
MissingFormLabel
- 7
Reimer S,
Seyfried F,
Flemming S.
et al.
Evolution of endoscopic vacuum therapy for upper gastrointestinal leakage over a 10-year
period: a quality improvement study. Surg Endosc 2022; 36 (12) 9169-9178
MissingFormLabel
- 8
Richter F,
Hendricks A,
Schniewind B.
et al.
Eso-Sponge® for anastomotic leakage after oesophageal resection or perforation: outcomes
from a national, prospective multicentre registry. BJS Open 2022; 6 (02) zrac030
MissingFormLabel
- 9
Vohra I,
Gopakumar H,
Sharma NR,
Puli SR.
Efficacy of endoscopic vacuum therapy in esophageal luminal defects: a systematic
review and meta-analysis. Clin Endosc 2025; 58 (01) 53-62
MissingFormLabel
- 10
Kühn F,
Wirth U,
Zimmermann J.
et al.
Endoscopic vacuum therapy for in- and outpatient treatment of colorectal defects.
Surg Endosc 2021; 35 (12) 6687-6695
MissingFormLabel
- 11
de Moura DTH,
Hirsch BS,
Ribas PHBV,
Silveira SQ,
Guedes HG,
Bestetti AM.
Endoscopic vacuum therapy: pitfalls, tips and tricks, insights, and perspectives.
Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 9: 50
MissingFormLabel
- 12
Kühn F,
Schardey J,
Wirth U.
et al.
Endoscopic vacuum therapy for the treatment of colorectal leaks - a systematic review
and meta-analysis. Int J Colorectal Dis 2022; 37 (02) 283-292
MissingFormLabel