Oligometastatic recurrence of an oesophageal adenocarcinoma at a chest drain site following radical treatment: palliative treatment or resection?

Chest drainage after oesophageal resection: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Modern enhanced recovery protocols discourage drain use due to negative impacts on patient comfort, mobility, and recovery, and lack of proven clinical benefit. After oesophagectomy, however, drains are still routinely placed. This review aimed to assess the evidence for, and how best to use chest drains after oesophageal surgery.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase and Cochrane collaboration databases. Studies reporting outcomes for different types or uses of thoracic drainage, or outcomes related to drains after trans-thoracic oesophagectomy were included. Studies were collated into domains based on variations in number, position, type, removal criteria, diagnostic use and complications of drains. Methodological quality was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa and Jadad scores.

RESULTS

Among 434 potentially relevant studies, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria and these included 2564 patients. Studies that examined the number of drains showed pain reduction with a single drain compared to multiple drains (3 studies, n = 103), and transhiatal placement compared to intercostal (6 studies, n = 425). Amylase levels may aid diagnosis of anastomotic leak (9 studies, n = 888). Narrow calibre Blake drains may effectively drain both air and fluid (2 studies, n = 163). Drain removal criteria by daily drainage volumes of up to 300 mL did not impact subsequent effusion rates (2 studies, n = 130). Complications related directly to drains were reported by 3 studies (n = 59).

CONCLUSION

Available evidence on the impact of thoracic drainage after oesophagectomy is limited, but has the potential to negatively affect outcomes. Further research is required to determine optimum drainage strategies.

Solitary recurrence at intercostal drain site in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

56 year old gentleman was evaluated for dysphagia and diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma and had undergone Transhiatal Oesophagectomy elsewhere, pT3N0, but had defaulted adjuvant treatment. He presented 15 months later to us with nodule at left intercostal drain (ICD) drain site. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan showed it to be single site metastasis and he underwent wide excision, followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. He is symptom free and on regular follow up for a period of ten months. Oesophageal cancer although with poor prognosis can be considered for metastatectomy after considering the disease free interval, site of recurrence and histological factors in carefully selected patient.