Comparing two ways to check healing after esophageal cancer surgery

After surgery to remove esophageal cancer, doctors need to check that the surgical connection (called an anastomosis) is healing properly before patients can eat. This study compares two ways of checking this healing: an endoscopy (a camera tube down the throat) versus an esophagram (an X-ray with contrast dye). The goal is to understand which method is better at finding problems and safely deciding when patients can start eating.

After esophageal cancer surgery, a serious complication called an anastomotic leak (a break in the surgical connection) can develop. Doctors need the fastest, most accurate way to detect this before patients eat, because eating with an undetected leak can be dangerous. This study will help determine which testing method is most reliable and practical.