Esophagectomy Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have esophagectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Infection
• Soreness in throat
• Adverse reaction to the anesthesia
• Leaks from the internal suture line
• Heart attack

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Pre-existing heart or lung conditions
• Advanced age
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol intake

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.