Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation has unfavorable impact on overall survival in patients with resectable oesophageal cancer

Does Thoracic Duct Ligation at the Time of Esophagectomy Impact Long-Term Survival? An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

Background: Thoracic duct ligation (TDL) during esophagectomy has been proposed to reduce the risk of postoperative chylothorax. Because of its role in immunoregulation, some authors argued that it had an unfavorable TDL effect on survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of TDL on overall survival (OS). Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through December 2023. The primary outcome was 5-year OS. The restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD), hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as pooled effect size measures. The GRADE methodology was used to summarize the certainty of the evidence. Results: Five studies (3291 patients) were included. TDL was reported in 54% patients. The patients' age ranged from 49 to 69, 76% were males, and BMI ranged from 18 to 26. At the 5-year follow-up, the combined effect from the multivariate meta-analysis is -3.5 months (95% CI -6.1, -0.8) indicating that patients undergoing TDL lived 3.5 months less compared to those without TDL. TDL was associated with a significantly higher hazard for mortality at 12 months (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.38-1.73), 24 months (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.35), and 28 months (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28). TDL and noTDL seem comparable in terms of the postoperative risk for chylothorax (RR = 0.66; p = 0.35). Conclusions: In this study, concurrent TDL was associated with reduced 5-year OS after esophagectomy. This may suggest the need of a rigorous follow-up within the first two years of follow-up.

Pre-operative oil ingestion reduces the probability of thoracic duct trunk ligation during esophagectomy

Chylothorax is an important complication after esophagectomy. Ligation of the injured thoracic duct is the main method to prevent chylothorax after esophagectomy, but may be associated with adverse effects. Whether ligation of the injured tributary alone, keeping the main trunk intact, may suffice to prevent post-operative chylothorax is not well known. Since March 2017, 40 mL of olive oil was administered to patients posted for esophagectomy. We compared patients admitted between March 2017 and December 2019 with patients admitted between July 2014 and February 2017, who had not received pre-operative oil. The outcome measures were the need for thoracic duct main trunk or tributary ligation, development of chylothorax and missed ligation. There were 371 patients in the oil ingestion group and 308 patients in the standard control group. Chylothorax in the oil ingestion group was significantly lower than that in the standard control group (1.3% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.012). Chyle leak from thoracic duct tributaries was diagnosed in a significantly higher percentage (5.7% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001) and missed ligation of the injured thoracic duct was significantly lower (0.3% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.002) in the oil ingestion group compared with the standard control group. The incidence of post-operative chylothorax was not statistically different (6.3% vs. 10.0%, P = 1.000) between the tributary and the trunk ligation group. Pre-operative oil ingestion can help visualize the thoracic duct trunk and its tributaries during esophagectomy. Thus, non-selected thoracic duct trunk ligation and missed ligation during esophagectomy can be reduced. Precise ligation of the injured tributary while the main trunk is intact can also prevent post-operative chylothorax.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of thoracic duct in minimally invasive esophagectomy

Chylothorax is a serious complication after esophagectomy and there are unmet needs for new intraoperative navigation tools to reduce its incidence. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR-FI) with indocyanine green (ICG) to identify thoracic ducts (TDs) and chyle leakage during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy. We recruited 41 patients who underwent thoraco-laparoscopic minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer in this prospective, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. ICG was injected into the right inguinal region before operations, after which TD anatomy and potential chyle leakage were checked under the near-infrared fluorescence intraoperatively. In 38 of 41 patients (92.7%) using NIR-FI, TDs were visible in high contrast. The mean signal-to-background ratio (SBR) value of all fluorescent TDs was 3.05 ± 1.56. Fluorescence imaging of TDs could be detected 0.5 hours after ICG injection and last up to 3 hours with an acceptable SBR value. The optimal observation time window is from about 1 to 2 hours after ICG injection. Under the guidance of real-time NIR-FI, three patients were found to have chylous leakage and the selective TD ligations were performed intraoperatively. No patient had postoperative chylothorax. NIR-FI with ICG can provide highly sensitive and real-time assessment of TDs as well as determine the source of chyle leakage, which might help reduce TD injury and direct selective TD ligation. It could be a promising navigation tool to reduce the incidence of chylothorax after minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Incidence of chylothorax over nineteen years of transhiatal esophagectomy: A case series and review study

Objectives

Chylothorax (CTx) is the leak and accumulation of lymphatic fluid within the pleural cavity. The incidence of CTx has the highest rate after esophagectomy. This study aimed to present three cases of post-esophagectomy chylothorax among 612 esophagectomies that were performed over 19 years, in which post-esophagectomy chylothorax was reviewed in terms of risk factors, diagnosis, and management.

Material and Methods

Six hundred and twelve patients were included in the study. Transhiatal esophagectomy was used for all patients. In three cases, chylothorax was detected. In all of the three cases, secondary surgery was performed for the management of chylothorax. Mass ligation was performed for the first and third cases having leak from the right side. In the second case, the leak was from the left side without prominent duct; and despite mass ligation that was done several times, no significant reduction in chyle was observed.

Results

In the first case, in spite of reduced output, the patient gradually progressed to respiratory distress. His condition deteriorated over time and he died after three days. In the second case that needed third surgery, the patient's condition deteriorated and she died after two days due to respiratory failure. The third patient had postoperative recovery. The patient was discharged on fifth day after the second operation.

Conclusion

In post-esophagectomy chylothorax, the key to preventing high mortality rates can be the identification of risk factors as well as timely detection of symptoms and proper management. Besides, early surgical intervention should be considered to prevent early complications of chylothorax.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma improves survival

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with positive lymph nodes after esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Cancer Hospital) from 2013 to 2017 were selected for this retrospective cohort study. Patients with positive lymph nodes were grouped into the surgery alone group and adjuvant chemotherapy group. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to minimize baseline differences.

RESULTS

Among the 5118 patients who underwent esophagectomy, 792 patients were enrolled in the study. After matching, 253 (of 476) patients (adjuvant chemotherapy group) and 253 (of 316) patients (surgery alone group) were included. The median overall survival was significantly prolonged in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (54.0 months, 95% CI, 41.1-66.9 months) compared with the surgery alone group (28.0 months, 95% CI, 22.4-33.6 months) (P <0.001). A significant difference was also observed in median disease-free survival between the two groups (adjuvant chemotherapy group, 33.0 months, 95% CI, 20.8-45.2 months compared with the surgery alone group, 22.0 months, 95% CI, 17.0-27.0 months; P = 0.007). In a multivariable analysis, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (P <0.001) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of death and dissection of more than six lymph node stations (P = 0.05) was marginally associated with a reduced risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy improves the overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with positive lymph nodes.

Embolization of the thoracic duct in patients with iatrogenic chylothorax

Chylothorax is leakage of lymphatic fluid accumulating in the pleural cavity due to the thoracic duct's (TD) trauma or obstructions. It generally occurs as a traumatic complication after general thoracic surgery procedures (0.4%), especially after esophagectomy (4.7-8.6%). Traditionally, surgical intervention is performed if conservative management fails, but reports of high mortality (2.1%) and morbidity (38%) have led to the development of a minimally invasive percutaneous treatment method; TD embolization (TDE). The records of all patients treated for chylothorax with TDE from April 2015 to June 2019 were reviewed. Only patients with iatrogenic chylothorax were included. The outcomes measures are defined as a technical and a clinical success. A technical success, is defined as the ability to perform the embolization procedure, thereby injecting embolizing material Histoacryl with or without coils. A clinical success is defined as a complete cessation of lymphatic leakage into the pleural cavity without surgical intervention and, therefore, a cured patient. Lymphography was performed in all patients, and visualization of cisterna chyli was achieved in 14/17 patients (82.4%). Of the 17 patients included, 15 patients were successfully embolized and cured of chylothorax (88.2%). Successfully embolized patients had a median discharge time of 7 days. Most patients reported postprocedural pain, which was dealt with using conventional pain medication. TDE seems like a safe percutaneous treatment technique with a high clinical success rate in iatrogenic chylothorax patients which can be readily implemented if the clinical experience is available..

Prophylactic ligation of the opacified thoracic duct in minimally invasive esophagectomy - feasibility and safety

BACKGROUND

Chyle leak is a rare but morbid complication of esophagectomy. We assessed the feasibility of visualization and prophylactic ligation of the opacified thoracic duct (TD) after administration of 50 ml of olive oil.

METHODS

This prospective single center study considered all patients with carcinoma of the middle and lower thirds of the thoracic esophagus including the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), managed from January 2018 to December 2019, for inclusion. All patients underwent McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy. After anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, 50 ml of olive oil was administered through a nasogastric (NG) tube. During thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, the opacified thoracic duct was identified and ligated using Weck Hem-o-lok clips immediately above the diaphragmatic hiatus. Postoperatively, the nature, volume, and triglyceride levels of the fluid from the chest drain were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were assessed for inclusion and eventually, 33 were enrolled. The median age of the study population was 55 years, and there were 20 males. The tumor site was the lower esophagus in 24 (72.7%) patients. The most common histolopathological finding was squamous cell carcinoma (97%). The opacified thoracic duct could be identified and ligated in 31 (93.9%) patients. The median duration from the administration of olive oil to the ligation of the thoracic duct was 100 min. The median chest drain output and triglyceride levels on postoperative day (POD) one were 250 ml and 48 mg% respectively. No patient developed postoperative chylothorax.

CONCLUSION

Opacification and visualization of the thoracic duct during thoracoscopy can be aided by administering olive oil. Ligation of this opacified duct is feasible and safe.

Thoracic Duct Resection Has a Favorable Impact on Prognosis by Preventing Hematogenous Spread of Esophageal Cancer Cells: A Multi-institutional Analysis of 2269 Patients

BACKGROUND

The impact of thoracic duct (TD) resection on prognosis is controversial. This study aimed to examine the impact of TD resection.

METHODS

In this six-institution, matched-cohort study, 2269 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy between 2000 and 2017 were enrolled for analysis of long-term outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), cause-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence patterns.

RESULTS

Based on a propensity score, 642 TD-resected and 642 TD-preserved patients with all stages of disease were selected. At 5 years, the TD-resected group had an OS of 57.7%, a DFS of 50.9%, and a CSS of 62.2%. These rates were significantly higher than the corresponding rates of 48.7% (p = 0.0078), 41.0% (p = 0.0297), and 55.3% (p = 0.0473) in the TD-preserved group. The OS in the TD-preserved and TD-resected groups was similar for the patients with cStage 1 or 2 (p = 0.6265), but it was significantly higher in the TD-resected group for the patients with cStage 3 or 4 (p = 0.0052). The incidence of total recurrence did not differ between the two groups. However, the incidence of hematogenous recurrence in the TD-resected group (19.0%) was significantly lower than in the TD-preserved group (26.2%) (p = 0.0021). For cT4a tumors, the incidence of local recurrence in the TD-resected group (2.4%) was significantly lower than in the TD-preserved group (18.4%) (p = 0.0183).

CONCLUSIONS

Performance of TD resection may help to improve prognosis, especially for patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, by reducing hematogenous and local recurrence. Prospective trials are needed to determine whether prophylactic TD resection has a positive impact on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

Association between low-fat enteral nutrition after esophagectomy and a lower incidence of chyle leakage: A call for more and better evidence

Objective

Reliable methods to prevent chyle leakage after esophagectomy are needed. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the correlation between low-fat nutrition and the incidence of chyle leakage after esophagectomy.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective case–control study involved patients who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy from December 2012 to August 2017. Tube feeding was started on postoperative day 1 with a normal fat-containing formula (control group, 203 patients) or low fat-containing formula (241 patients).

Results

The patients in the control group and low-fat group had a similar incidence of chyle leakage (7 [3.4%] vs. 19 [9.4%], respectively) and anastomotic leakage (4 [2.0%] vs. 11 [5.4%], respectively). The multivariate logistic regression indicated that high-volume surgeon experience (performance of ≥100 esophagectomies per year) was correlated with a lower incidence of chyle leakage (odds ratio, 0.280; 95% confidence interval, 0.110–0.712), whereas low-fat nutrition was correlated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage (odds ratio, 5.995; 95% confidence interval, 1.201–29.925).

Conclusion

Prophylactic low-fat enteral nutrition following esophagectomy might not decrease the risk of chyle leakage. More and better evidence is needed.

The influence of thoracic duct ligation on long-term survival of patients with esophageal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background

Ligation of the thoracic duct (LTD) is known to be a useful way to prevent postoperative chylothorax, but its impact on long-term survival is rare to be assessed.

Methods

Data from 609 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy from September, 2012, to January, 2014, were retrospectively collected. The study cohort was classified into two groups: the thoracic duct ligation group (LG) and the non-ligation group (NLG). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control confounding factors between the two groups. Postoperative complications and length of stay were compared between the two groups. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared using the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined using Cox regression analysis.

Results

After PSM, there were 185 patients in each of the two groups. LTD had no significant impact on chylothorax, anastomotic leak, recurrent nerve palsy, pneumonia and length of stay (P>0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 87.0%, 64.1%, and 50.9% in the LG, respectively, compared to 85.4%, 59.9%, and 42.3%, respectively, in the NLG. The differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (P=0.156). In the multivariable analysis, LTD was not an independent prognostic factor, neither before nor after PSM.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that LTD had no significant impact on postoperative complications or long-term survival in patients with esophageal cancer.

The effect of prophylactic thoracic duct ligation during esophagectomy on the incidence of chylothorax and survival of the patients: an updated review

BACKGROUND

The role of thoracic duct ligation (TDL) during esophagectomy remains controversial. This review aimed to elucidate the effect of TDL on chylothorax and survival of the patients after esophagectomy for cancer.

METHODS

We searched articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar till May 2020 according to the PRISMA guidelines using the terms of [Oesophagectomy OR esophagectomy] AND [chylothorax] AND [thoracic duct ligation]. Only those compared the incidence of chylothorax in patients who ligated or resected the thoracic duct (ligation group) or preserved the thoracic duct (preservation group) were selected.

RESULTS

First, 15 studies including one randomized controlled trial were collected for meta-analysis regarding post-esophagectomy chylothorax. Of these, 3658 patients underwent TDL and 4638 cases preserved the thoracic duct. Both groups showed similar chylothorax rate (odd ratios 0.73 in favor of ligation group; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-1.07, p = 0.11). Second, four studies providing survival information were included for another meta-analysis, and the patients in preservation group demonstrated better 5-year overall survival compared to those in ligation group (odds ratio 1.25; 95% CI 1.08-1.44, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The present review provided updated evidence opposing prophylactic TDL during esophagectomy for lowering chylothorax. Considering the harmful effect of TDL on survival of the patients, further well-designed trials should be considered in selected cases under strict supervision.

Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation is associated with poor prognosis and regional lymph node relapse in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The ligation of thoracic duct interrupts the normal lymphatic circulation. Whether the ligation of thoracic duct would affect tumor recurrence and patient survival is unclear.

METHODS

The correlations between prophylactic thoracic duct ligation (PLG) and prognosis were examined in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients who received Ivor Lewis or McKeown esophagectomy with systemic lymph node dissection and R0 resection between 2003 and 2013 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total number of 473 and 462 were included in the PLG group and non-prophylactic thoracic duct ligation (NPLG) group, respectively. The PLG group had a lower 5-year survival rate (48.2% vs 61.6%, P < .001). After a 1:1 propensity score matching, 874 cases (437 pairs) were included and the survival analysis showed that PLG was associated with worse 5-year cumulative survival of 48.6% vs 61.6% in those patients without ligation (P < .001). The multivariate analysis revealed that PLG was an independent factor for poor prognosis after esophagectomy (hazard ratio, HR = 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.26-1.93, P < .001). Additionally, PLG was associated with regional lymph node relapse (P = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

PLG should not be performed routinely if no sign of thoracic duct rupture or tumor invasion were identified.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol to promote recovery following esophageal cancer resection

Esophageal cancer surgery, comprising esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy, is a complex procedure associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol which aims to improve perioperative care, minimize complications, and accelerate recovery is showing promise for achieving better perioperative outcomes. ERAS is a multimodal approach that has been reported to shorten the length of hospital stay, reduce surgical stress response, decrease morbidity, and expedite recovery. While ERAS components straddle preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods, they need to be seen in continuum and not as isolated elements. In this review, we elaborate on the components of an ERAS protocol after esophagectomy including preoperative nutrition, prehabilitation, counselling, smoking and alcohol cessation, cardiopulmonary evaluation, surgical technique, anaesthetic management, intra- and postoperative fluid management and pain relief, mobilization and physiotherapy, enteral and oral feeding, removal of drains, and several other components. We also share our own institutional protocol for ERAS following esophageal resections.

Prophylactic ligation of the thoracic duct branch prevents chylothorax after pulmonary resection for right lung cancer

PURPOSE

Chylothorax is a rare and challenging complication of thoracic surgery. Whereas most current studies focus on postoperative treatment and preventative measures for esophageal cancer surgery, the current study investigates the impact of prophylactic ligation of the thoracic duct branch on postoperative chylothorax after pulmonary resection for right lung cancer.

METHODS

The subjects of this retrospective study were 1165 patients who underwent right pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph-node dissection in our department between January 2015 and August 2019. Those who underwent prophylactic ligation of the thoracic duct branch after 4R lymph-node dissection were assigned to group A (n = 475), and those who did not were assigned to group B (n = 690). The incidence of postoperative chylothorax, the success rate of conservative treatment, the postoperative hospital stay, and the chest drainage volume were recorded and compared statistically between the two groups.

RESULTS

The incidence of postoperative chylothorax was significantly lower in group A than in group B (0.84% vs. 2.90%, p = 0.015). Patients who had a chylothorax in group A had a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay, less mean drainage volume per day, and less total drainage than those in group B (7.25 ± 0.50 days vs. 11.00 ± 2.81 days, p = 0.003; 0.64 ± 0.04 L vs. 0.80 ± 0.09 L, p = 0.003; 4.64 ± 0.40 L vs. 8.82 ± 2.84 L; p = 0.002). The success rate of conservative treatment was higher in group A than in group B, but the difference was not significant (100% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.544).

CONCLUSION

Performing prophylactic ligation of the thoracic duct branch during right pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph-node dissection is an effective and safe method of preventing postoperative chylothorax.

Outcomes of Right Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy Combined with Laparotomy: a Preliminary Vietnamese Study

Background:

Esophageal cancer is the fourth-most-common cancerous disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with increasing incidence rates.

Aim:

The present study aimed to assess the outcomes of right thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with laparotomy for esophageal cancer treatment in Vietnamese patients.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of 71 patients was conducted at 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, from January 2010 to December 2017.

Results:

Right thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with laparotomy was performed in 71 patients with esophageal cancer. The mean patient age was 55.8 years, and 100% were male. Patients were diagnosed with the following cancer stages: Stage 0: 4.2%; Stage I: 14.1%; Stage II: 59.2%; and Stage III: 22.5%. The lymph node metastasis rate was 33.8%. The overall complication rate was 42.3%, which included a pneumonia rate of 12.3%, a respiratory failure rate of 7.0%, an anastomotic leak rate of 11.3%, and a chylothorax rate of 4.2%. The mean postoperative time was 16.4 days. The mean follow-up time was 21.7 months. The median overall survival was 45.7 months. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year survival rates were 79.7%, 62.3%, 52.3%, and 43.6%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with laparotomy for esophageal cancer was a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure that should play a continued role in cancer treatment.

Thoracic Duct Resection During Esophagectomy Does Not Contribute to Improved Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matched-Cohort Study

PURPOSE

Esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy remains the mainstay of treatment for localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Thoracic duct (TD) resection has been recommended as part of extended lymphadenectomy, although its merits are unclear. The aim of this two-institutional, matched-cohort study is to clarify whether TD resection improves prognosis in esophagectomy for ESCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this two-institutional, matched-cohort study of 399 patients with ESCC who underwent McKeown esophagectomy between 2010 and 2014, the primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cause-specific survival (CSS). Secondary outcomes were perioperative results and recurrence patterns.

RESULTS

Based on a propensity score, 122 TD-resected or 122 TD-preserved patients in all stages were selected (median follow-up 4.5 years). The 5-year OS, DFS, and CSS rates in the TD-resected versus TD-preserved groups were 49% versus 60%, 53% versus 57%, and 58% versus 70%, respectively, without any significant differences. Operative time for the thoracic procedure was significantly longer and the number of retrieved mediastinal nodes was significantly higher in the TD-resected group (P = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively). The rates of chylothorax and left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy were significantly higher in the TD-resected group (P = 0.041 and 0.018, respectively). There were no significant differences in rates of local or distant metastases between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

TD resection does not contribute to improve OS, DFS, or CSS in ESCC but increases incidence of chylothorax and left RLN palsy. Prophylactic TD resection should be avoided in esophagectomy for ESCC.

Robotic-assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy for cancer: An initial experience

Background:

The morbidity related to radical oesophagectomy can be reduced by adopting minimally invasive techniques. Over 250 thoraco-laparoscopic oesophagectomy (TLE) was done in our centre over the last 15 years, before adopting robotic surgery as the latest innovation in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Here, we share our initial experience of robotic-assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy (RAMIE) for carcinoma oesophagus.

Methods:

A prospective observational study conducted from February to December 2017. A total of 15 patients underwent RAMIE in this period. Data regarding demography, clinical characteristics, investigations, operating techniques, and post-operative outcome were collected in detail.

Results:

There were 10 (66.7%) male patients and the median age of all patients was 62.9 (range 36–78) years. The median body mass index was 24.4 (range 15–32.8) kg/m². Twelve (80.0%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus and 3 (20%) patients had adenocarcinoma (AC). Five (33.3%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy. All 15 patients underwent RAMIE. Patients with SCC underwent McKeown's procedure, and those with AC underwent Ivor Lewis procedure. Extended two-field lymphadenectomy (including total mediastinal lymphadenectomy) was done for all the patients. The median operating time was 558 (range 390–690) min and median blood loss was 145 (range 90–230) ml. There were no intra-operative adverse events, and none of them required conversion to open or total thoracolaparoscopic procedure. The most common post-operative complications were recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis (3 patients, 20.0%) and pneumonia (2 patients, 13.3%). The median hospital stay was 9 (range 7–33) days. In total, 9 (60%) patients required adjuvant treatment.

Conclusion:

Adequate experience in TLE can help minimally invasive surgeons in easy adoption of RAMIE with satisfactory outcome.

Two-Field Lymphadenectomy During Esophagectomy: The Presence of Thoracic Duct Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND

Resection of the thoracic duct is part of the formal en bloc mediastinal esophagolymphadenectomy for cancer, although with the adaptation of minimally invasive techniques, some centers started to leave the thoracic duct compartment in situ. However, previous studies reported thoracic duct lymph nodes in this compartment that may contain metastasis. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and number of lymph nodes in the fatty tissue surrounding the thoracic duct.

METHODS

A right-sided thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed on seven fresh-frozen human cadavers (male, n = 3; female, n = 4). The esophagus and lymph node stations 7, 8, and 9 were resected en bloc, followed by resection of the thoracic duct compartment consisting of the fatty tissue covering the aorta, the thoracic duct and thoracic duct lymph nodes. Lymph nodes were visualized by a hematoxylin and eosin stain and counted macroscopically and microscopically.

RESULTS

Thoracic duct lymph nodes were found in 6 of 7 cadavers (86%), with a median number of 1 (range, 0 to 6). Nodes were predominantly located in the area of the azygos vein. A median of 4 subcarinal nodes (range, 1 to 8) and 2 periesophageal nodes (range, 1 to 4) were present.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that thoracic duct lymph nodes are located within the fatty tissue surrounding the thoracic duct. Resection of this compartment during an esophagectomy for cancer increases lymph node yield.

Selective En Masse Ligation of the Thoracic Duct to Prevent Chyle Leak After Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative chylothorax remains an important cause of reoperation and prolonged hospital stay after esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Chylothorax is potentially life threatening and difficult to manage. The benefit of routine thoracic duct ligation is controversial. A promising alternative is to identify chyle leaks at the time of esophagectomy and perform the ligation selectively. We developed a novel technique to identify chyle leak at the time of esophagectomy and compared it with routine ligation of thoracic duct.

METHODS

This cohort study involved all of the qualified patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma treated between March 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, by a single surgical team at West China Hospital. Patients receiving routine en masse ligation of the thoracic duct were assigned to group A, and patients receiving selective en masse ligation of the thoracic duct were assigned to group B. All patients in the selective ligation group received 120 mL olive oil orally before the operation. The end point included frequencies of chyle leak detected at the time of esophagectomy, postoperative chylothorax, and need for chylothorax-related reoperation.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 296 patients who fulfilled the study requirement: 55 in group A and 241 in group B. Patients in group A experienced significantly higher incidences of postoperative chylothorax and chylothorax-related reoperation than group B (9.1% vs 0% [p < 0.01] and 3.6% vs 0% [p < 0.01]). Incidence of detection of intraoperative chyle leak (chylothorax plus chylous ascites) was significantly higher in group B than in group A (9.5% vs 0%, p < 0.01). No intraoperative or postoperative complications related to preoperative oral olive oil administration or selective en masse ligation of the thoracic duct were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our method of selective en masse ligation of the thoracic duct during esophagectomy was feasible and safe and was associated with reduced rates of postoperative chylothorax.

Chylothorax after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: risk factors and management

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is an uncommon complication of esophagectomy. It carries significant morbidity and mortality. The predisposing factors are ill-defined.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the data of 45 patients of carcinoma esophagus who underwent esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) from January 2010 to July 2012 in our tertiary health care center.

RESULTS

Four patients (8.88 %) had chylothorax. On analysis of perioperative factors, it was found that patients with chylothorax had tumor in middle third of thoracic esophagus (100 %), shown partial response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACRT) (100 %) and were associated with difficult mediastinal dissection (75 %) leading to higher blood loss requiring transfusion unlike those without chylothorax. There was no significant difference in the incidence of chylothorax following transhiatal, 3/35 = 8.57 % or transthoracic esophagectomy 1/10 = 10 % (p = 0.898). Three patients were managed by transabdominal en masse ligation of tissue between aorta and azygos vein while one patient was managed conservatively. Patients were discharged after a mean hospital stay of 15.5 days. The 30-day mortality rates in the two groups were similar (0 % vs. 4.8 %).

CONCLUSION

Difficult mediastinal dissection during esophagectomy in middle esophageal cancer may lead to thoracic duct injury. Complete response to NACRT may reduce the risk of chylothorax. Early transabdominal en masse ligation carries excellent results. Low output fistula following thoracic duct injury can be managed conservatively.