The Role of the Immature Granulocyte Value in Predicting Oesophagojejunostomy Anastomosis Leakage after Total Gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the immature granulocyte (IG) value in the diagnosis of oesophagojejunostomy anastomosis leakage (EJAL). STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive, analytical study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye, from October 2022 to November 2024. METHODOLOGY: The study included 59 patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2022 and 2024. Age, gender, T stage, N stage, tumour grade, preoperative albumin level, ASA score, combined organ resection, and postoperative values of CRP, white blood cell (WBC) count, and IG values on day 1, 3, and 5 were compared. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's chi-square test were used to compare the two groups with or without EJAL. RESULTS: EJAL was observed in 5 (8.5%) cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in the CRP and IG values on postoperative day 5. Among these statistically significant results, the most meaningful was the IG value on postoperative day 5, with a cut-off value of 0.11 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 85.19%). CONCLUSION: In cases undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, the IG value on postoperative day 5 can be used to diagnose EJAL and is more significant than CRP and WBC values. KEY WORDS: Gastric cancer, Oesophagojejunostomy leak, Immature granulocyte.