What is a potential complication during esophageal surgery regarding lymphatics?

Injury to the thoracic duct is a potential complication during esophageal surgery because this duct is responsible for draining lymphatic fluid from the lower body and parts of the left side of the upper body. During surgical procedures in the thoracic cavity, including those involving the esophagus, the thoracic duct can be inadvertently damaged due to its anatomical location. This can lead to a condition known as chylothorax, where lymphatic fluid leaks into the pleural cavity, causing respiratory complications and requiring further management.

The other complications mentioned, such as sectioning of the intercostal nerves, damage to the pancreatic duct, and excessive bleeding from gastric vessels, while they can occur in certain surgical contexts, are not as directly related to the lymphatic system and do not pose the same specific risk associated with lymphatic drainage as an injury to the thoracic duct does. Thus, the correct answer accurately identifies a unique and significant risk inherent to esophageal surgical procedures.