Skipping the use of a nasogastric (NG) tube after esophageal cancer surgery may not be as safe as the routine five-day decompression, according to results published in The Lancet Regional Health that suggest using the tube could lower the risk of anastomotic leaks .

Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers are among the deadliest cancers worldwide, responsible for more than 500,000 deaths each year, according to the study’s authors. Surgical removal of the esophagus, or esophagectomy, remains the primary treatment option for patients with curable disease.

While this procedure increases the chance of long-term survival, it carries a high risk of serious complications. Pneumonia is the most common postoperative issue, but an anastomotic leak—when the surgical connection between

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