The Impact of Postoperative Complications on Survivals After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

National trends in operative approach to esophagectomy: utilization rates, outcomes, and overall survival

BACKGROUND

Although open esophagectomies (OE) have traditionally been favored, minimally invasive approaches are increasingly utilized and associated with improved outcomes. We investigated the adoption rates of robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with OE. Utilization rates by surgical approach, post-operative outcomes, and overall survival were analyzed.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent OE, MIE, and RAMIE for esophageal cancer from 2010 to 2019. Adoption rates of RAMIE, MIE and OE were determined for all patients. Patients with primary cervical esophageal cancer, stage 4 disease, unknown staging, or missing follow-up data were excluded. Multivariable Cox regression models compared overall survival based on surgical approach.

RESULTS

A total of 17,765 patients underwent an esophagectomy for stage I, II, and III disease (OE: n = 10,039; MIE: n = 5388; RAMIE: n = 2338). Between 2010 and 2019, OE decreased by 52%, while MIE and RAMIE increased by 49% and 704%, respectively. The overall conversion rate of MIE and RAMIE to OE decreased significantly over the study time period. On multivariable analysis, the odds of 30-day and 90-day mortality was lower for MIE (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and trended towards lower for RAMIE when compared to OE, though was not a statistically significant difference. Further, the overall 5-year survival was higher in the MIE and RAMIE cohort compared to the OE cohort. Like short-term survival, patients who underwent MIE had a significantly lower mortality (p < 0.001) while those who underwent RAMIE trended towards lower mortality.

CONCLUSION

This contemporary review of a national cohort demonstrates the rapid adoption of minimally invasive esophagectomy techniques, without compromise in short-term or long-term outcomes.

The impact of perioperative oral care on postoperative infection in patients with esophageal cancer: a retrospective cohort study before and during COVID-19

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the impact of preoperative oral hygiene on the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (PP) and surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery considering the influence of COVID-19 and developing effective perioperative oral care methods.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent esophageal cancer surgery between January 2017 and March 2022 were analyzed. Patient characteristics and the incidence of PP and SSI before and during COVID-19 were compared. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with PP and SSI as the dependent variables.

RESULTS

This analysis included 207 participants. The mean age was 66.6 ± 8.3 years old, and 78.3% were male. There were no significant changes in the incidence of PP or SSI before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preoperative xerostomia significantly increased the risk of PP (odds ratio = 3.34, 95% confidence interval 1.10-10.08, p = 0.033), an advanced cancer stage, and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Surgical procedures and reconstructive organs, but not preoperative oral hygiene factors, were associated with SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of PP and SSI in patients with esophageal cancer showed no marked changes before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing preoperative xerostomia may be crucial for reducing the risk of PP.

Longitudinal Follow-up of Medicare Patients After Esophageal Cancer Resection in the STS Database

BACKGROUND

Understanding characteristics associated with survival after esophagectomy for cancer is critical to preoperative risk stratification. This study sought to define predictors for long-term survival after esophagectomy for cancer in Medicare patients.

METHODS

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database was queried for patients aged ≥65 years who underwent esophagectomy for cancer between 2012 and 2020 and linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data using a deterministic matching algorithm. Patient, hospital, and treatment variables were assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate characteristics associated with long-term mortality and readmission. Kaplan-Meier and cumulative incidence curves were generated and differences evaluated using the log-rank test and Gray's test, respectively.

RESULTS

After CMS linkage, 4798 patients were included. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality in the study group was 3.84% and 7.45%, respectively. In the multivariable model, American Society of Anesthesiologists score >3, body mass index >35, and diabetes were associated with increased mortality <90 days post-surgery, while pN/pT upstaging was associated with increased mortality >90 days post-surgery. Patients upstaged to pN(+) had a 147% increased mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.47; 95% CI, 2.02-3.02) and those that remained pN(+) a 75% increased mortality risk (aHR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.57-1.95) compared with downstaged patients. Patients who were pT upstaged had a 109% (aHR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.73-2.53) increased mortality risk compared with pT downstaged patients. Risk for readmission was independent of procedure type or approach and was higher in c stage ≥2, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥4, and pN+.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicare patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer have identifiable patient-specific predictors for short-term mortality and tumor-specific predictors for long-term mortality and readmission. In the absence of pathologic T and N downstaging, risk for long-term mortality and readmission are increased.

Effects of Postoperative Complications on Overall Survival Following Esophagectomy: A Meta-Analysis Using the Restricted Mean Survival Time Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of the effects of postoperative complications (PCs) on survival following esophagectomy using the restricted mean survival time (RMST) analysis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Medline, including articles published up to July 2024. Data were reconstructed from Kaplan-Meier curves, and the difference in RMST (RMSTD) and the RMST/restricted mean time loss (RMTL) ratios were calculated to examine the effects of PCs on overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 12 articles, including 7925 patients, met the inclusion criteria. RMSTD estimates indicate that patients with overall PCs survived an average of 0.04 years shorter (RMSTD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.06, -0.03) than those without PCs at the 1-year follow-up and 0.39 years shorter (RMSTD = -0.39, 95% CI: -0.55, -0.22) at the 5-year follow-up. Patients with anastomotic leaks survived an average of 0.34 years shorter (RMSTD = -0.34, 95% CI: -0.49, -0.19), and patients with pulmonary complications survived an average of 0.63 years shorter (RMSTD = -0.63, 95% CI: -0.81, -0.45) at the 5-year follow-up. Additionally, RMTL ratios were estimated to be 1.21 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.31) for overall PCs, 1.19 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.28) for anastomotic leaks, and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.36, 1.73) for pulmonary complications at the 5-year follow-up, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings quantified the annual negative impact of PCs of esophageal cancer on overall patient survival following esophagectomy. Increased efforts are needed to enhance prevention, early screening, and timely treatment for complications, particularly for patients with pulmonary complications.

HMB/Arg/Gln may improve short-term outcomes after esophagectomy in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The wound healing effects of a specialized amino acid supplement containing calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, L-arginine, and L-glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of HMB/Arg/Gln in the perioperative management of patients with thoracic esophageal cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 131 patients who underwent esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer between January 2016 and November 2023. Postoperative infectious complications (PICs) were compared between patients who received HMB/Arg/Gln for 7 days before surgery (n = 95) and those who did not (control group, n = 36).

RESULTS

Among the 111 male and 20 female patients (median age 68 years, range 38-84 years), stage I disease was found in 37 patients, stage II in 26, stage III in 61, and stage IVa in 7. Of the 131 patients, 36 (27.5%) had PICs, with PICs occurring in 20 (21%) of the HMB/Arg/Gln group and 16 (44.4%) of the control group. The PIC rate was significantly lower in the HMB/Arg/Gln than in the control group (p = 0.007). Propensity score matching analysis showed lower rates of anastomotic leakage (5.5% vs. 22.2%; p = 0.04) and Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher PICs (5.5% vs. 27.8%; p = 0.011) in the HMB/Arg/Gln than in the control group. The healing time for anastomotic leakage was shorter in the HMB/Arg/Gln (18 days, range 7-25 days) than in the control group (25 days, range 21-56 days) (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

HMB/Arg/Gln supplementation was associated with reduced risk of anastomotic leakage and PIC severity following esophagectomy.

Intraoperative Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring for Esophagectomy: A National Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Lymphadenectomy around the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is an essential part of curative surgery for esophageal cancer. Although several single-center studies have shown that intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) can avoid RLN palsy, this has not been confirmed in a large-scale multicenter study. This study used a national database to evaluate whether IONM can reduce postoperative RLN palsy during minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We retrieved data of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent 3-field thoracoscopic or robotic MIE with cervical anastomosis with IONM(+) (502 patients) and without IONM(-) (4353 patients) from April 2020 to March 2022 from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan. We used propensity score-matching analysis to compare the frequency of postoperative RLN palsy and respiratory complications between the IONM(+) group and IONM(-) group.

RESULTS

The postoperative RLN palsy rate was significantly lower in the IONM(+) than IONM(-) group (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.13-0.46). The respiratory complication rate was also significantly lower in the IONM(+) than in the IONM(-) group (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.97). The anesthesia time was significantly longer in the IONM(+) group (regression coefficient, 60.1 minutes; 95% CI, 44.2-76.9 minutes). The length of postoperative hospitalization tended to be shorter in the IONM(+) than in the IONM(-) group (regression coefficient, -1.39 days; 95% CI, -3.91 to 1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

This national cohort study showed that IONM during 3-field MIE for esophageal cancer was associated with a reduction of postoperative RLN palsy and respiratory complications.

Effect of Perioperative Inhaled Tiotropium for patients with chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease in Esophageal cancer surgery (EPITOPE): an open-label, randomized, parallel-group pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for pneumonia following esophagectomy. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of perioperative inhaled tiotropium in patients with COPD undergoing esophagectomy.

METHODS

This open-label, randomized controlled trial randomly assigned 32 patients with COPD undergoing esophagectomy to conventional management or addition of tiotropium inhalation. The intervention group received tiotropium from two weeks before esophagectomy until the final evaluation one month after esophagectomy. The primary outcome was the incidence of pneumonia within 30 postoperative days. We also assessed the changes and the percentages from baseline in pulmonary function and walking distance of the incremental shuttle walking test to just before esophagectomy and final evaluation.

RESULTS

Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 18) and the intervention group (n = 14). Pneumonia was recorded in 4 (28.6%) and 5 (27.8%) patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively (risk difference: 0.8%, 95% confidence interval: - 30.6 to 32.2). The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in pulmonary function and walking distance preoperatively. Further, the pulmonary function test was significantly better preoperatively in the intervention group than in the control group. Postoperatively, pulmonary function deterioration was more significant in the control group than in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative tiotropium inhalation significantly improved pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD undergoing esophagectomy. The perioperative tiotropium did not reduce pneumonia after esophagectomy, but it may contribute to patient recovery by reducing postoperative pulmonary function deterioration.

A nationwide survey on the safety of cricothyrotomy: a multicenter retrospective study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Cricothyrotomy is a widely performed potentially life-saving treatment to secure an airway in emergencies. It is also a pneumonia-preventing treatment to secure an expectorant route in patients with difficulty self-expelling sputum; however, its safety and usefulness remain unclear. Thus, we conducted a nationwide survey of cricothyrotomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected and analyzed cricothyrotomy data from the institutions certified by the Japan Broncho-Esophagological Society or the Japanese Esophageal Society. Ultimately, 116 facilities responded to the survey and the present study included 1001 patients from 26 facilities who underwent cricothyrotomies from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021.

RESULTS

Cricothyrotomy was performed for sputum suctioning after esophagectomy or other surgical procedures in 945 (94.4%) cases and for emergency airway clearance in 48 (4.8%) cases. Complications during puncture were observed in 12 (1.2%) cases. We found significantly fewer complications during puncture for sputum suction (1.0%) compared with emergency airway clearance (4.2%) (p = 0.002), and also at the condition after esophagectomy (0.5%) compared with other surgical procedures (7.8%) (p < 0.001). Complications after puncture were observed in 45 (4.5%) cases, and we found significantly fewer complications after puncture at the condition after esophagectomy (4.2%) compared with other surgical procedures (11.8%) (p = 0.032). There were no significant differences in the type of kit used for complications during and after the puncture.

CONCLUSIONS

Cricothyrotomy for prophylactic sputum suctioning after esophagectomy was safer compared to emergency airway clearance. However, future studies should verify the efficacy of cricothyrotomy.

Novel nutrition strategies in gastric and esophageal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Advances in treatment strategies for gastric and esophageal cancer have led to improved long-term outcomes, however the local and systemic effects of the primary tumor, neoadjuvant therapies and surgery, result in specific nutritional challenges. Comprehensive nutritional evaluation and support represents a core component of multidisciplinary holistic care for this patient population.

AREAS COVERED

We provide a detailed overview of nutritional challenges in gastric and esophageal cancer, with a focus on malignant obstruction, preoperative optimization and survivorship. We discuss current management strategies and evidence base, and describe future therapeutic targets.

EXPERT OPINION

Data to support the optimal management of malignant dysphagia and obstruction, particularly regarding patient reported outcomes, is currently lacking. The advantages of nutritional optimization in the pre- and immediate postoperative phase are well described, but further research is needed to inform optimal personalised strategies. Emerging data regarding the physiologic regulation of appetite and body weight have provided key insights and informed the development of novel therapeutic targets to improve nutritional status among patients undergoing treatment for oesophageal and gastric cancer.

Prevention and Management of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy in Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy remains a significant complication following minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and lymphadenectomy precision, the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy has not been improved. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy predominantly affects the left side and may lead to unilateral or bilateral vocal cord paralysis, resulting in hoarseness, dysphagia, and an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. While most cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy are temporary and resolve within 6 to 12 months, some patients may experience permanent nerve dysfunction, severely impacting their quality of life. Prevention strategies, such as nerve integrity monitoring, robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy, and advanced dissection techniques, aim to minimize nerve injury, though their effectiveness varies. The management of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy includes voice and swallowing rehabilitation, reinnervation techniques, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions such as thyroplasty and intracordal injection. As recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy can lead to significant postoperative respiratory complications, a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical precision, early detection, and comprehensive rehabilitation is crucial to improving patient outcomes and minimizing long-term morbidity in minimally invasive esophagectomy. This review article aims to inform esophageal surgeons and other clinicians about strategies for the prevention and management of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in esophagectomy.

Essential updates 2022/2023: Recent advances in perioperative management of esophagectomy to improve operative outcomes

In the era of minimally invasive surgery, esophagectomy remains a highly invasive procedure with a high rate of postoperative complications. Preoperative risk assessment is essential for planning esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer, and it is crucial to implement evidence-based perioperative management to mitigate these risks. Perioperative support from multidisciplinary teams has recently been reported to improve the perioperative nutritional status and long-term survival of patients undergoing esophagectomy. Intraoperative management of anesthesia and fluid therapy also significantly affects short-term outcomes after esophagectomy. In this narrative review, we outline the recent updates in the perioperative management of esophagectomy, focusing on preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative management, and perioperative support by multidisciplinary teams to improve operative outcomes.

Association Between Early Mobilization and Postoperative Pneumonia Following Robot-assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy in Patients with Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to confirm that early mobilization (EM) could reduce pneumonia in patients undergoing robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC).

METHODS

Postoperative pneumonia was defined as physician-diagnosed pneumonia using the Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group definition of pneumonia with a Clavien-Dindo classification grade II-V on postoperative day (POD) 3-5. EM was defined as achieving an ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) ≥7 by POD 2. Patients were divided into EM (n = 36) and non-EM (n = 35) groups. Barriers to EM included pain, orthostatic intolerance (OI), and orthostatic hypotension.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 12.7%, with a significant difference between the EM (2.8%) and non-EM (22.9%) groups (P = 0.014). The odds ratio was 0.098 in the EM group compared to the non-EM group. A significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the barriers to EM at POD 2 only for OI, with a higher incidence in the non-EM group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with OI were more likely to be unable to achieve EM than those without OI (odds ratio, 7.030; P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

EM within POD 2 may reduce the incidence of postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing RAMIE for TESCC. Furthermore, it was suggested that OI can have a negative impact on the EM after RAMIE.

Influence of pancreatic fistula on survival after upfront pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: multicentre retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The effects of postoperative pancreatic fistula on survival rates remain controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of postoperative pancreatic fistula on overall survival and recurrence-free survival after upfront pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Patients operated on between January 2007 and December 2017 at seven tertiary pancreatic centres for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Postoperative pancreatic fistula was defined using the 2016 International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery grading system. The impact of postoperative pancreatic fistula on overall survival, recurrence-free survival (excluding 90-day postoperative deaths) and corresponding risk factors were investigated by univariable and multivariable analyses. Comparisons between groups were made using the chi-squared or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. Odds ratios were estimated with their 95% confidence intervals. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method with their 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 819 patients were included between 2007 and 2017. Postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 14.4% (n = 118) of patients; of those, 7.8% (n = 64) and 6.6% (n = 54) accounted for grade B and grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 37.0% in the non-postoperative pancreatic fistula group and 45.3% in the postoperative pancreatic fistula cohort (P = 0.127). Grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula (excluding 90-day postoperative deaths) was not a prognostic factor for overall survival. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 26.0% for patients without postoperative pancreatic fistula and 43.7% for patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula (P = 0.003). Eight independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival were identified: age over 70 years, diabetes, moderate or poor tumour differentiation, T3/T4 tumour stage, lymph node positive status, resection margins R1, vascular emboli and perineural invasion.

CONCLUSION

This high-volume cohort showed that grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula, based on the 2016 International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery grading system, does not impact overall or recurrence-free survival (excluding 90-day postoperative deaths).

An audit of perioperative speech pathology intervention on improving enhanced recovery after surgery in oesophagectomy patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of a speech-language pathology (SLP) pathway on recovery following oesophagectomy.

METHOD

An audit was conducted at a single metropolitan public hospital in Sydney, Australia. Patients between 2014-2021 undergoing a three-stage oesophagectomy (n = 41) were included in the study. The sample was divided into two groups, those who received usual care (2014-2019) and those who received perioperative SLP assessment and intervention (2020-2021), with data collected across swallowing and health outcomes. Patient demographics and outcomes between the two groups were compared.

RESULT

Patients who received perioperative SLP intervention commenced oral intake faster postoperatively (SLP intervention group Mdn = 6.50 days, IQR = 6.00-7.00; usual care group Mdn = 9.00 days, IQR = 7.00-13.25; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in rates of aspiration on the postoperative leak test (p = 0.32). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in length of hospital stay or number of swallowing-related medical images completed during their admission.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative SLP intervention has a positive impact on commencing oral intake following a three-stage oesophagectomy, however, it does not have a significant impact on rates of aspiration postoperatively. This pathway may contribute to enhanced recovery after oesophagectomy.

Definitive Chemoradiotherapy versus Trimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Cohort Study

The optimal management of patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma is unclear. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy (trimodality therapy) is supported as a standard of care, but definitive chemoradiotherapy is frequently given in practice to patients who may have been surgical candidates. This multi-institutional retrospective cohort study compared the outcomes of consecutive patients diagnosed with stage II to IVA esophageal adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2018 who planned to undergo trimodality therapy or definitive chemoradiotherapy. A total of 493 patients were included, of whom 435 intended to undergo trimodality therapy and 56 intended to undergo definitive chemoradiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 7.3 years, trimodality therapy was associated with a lower risk of locoregional failure (5-year risk, 30.5% vs. 61.3%; HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.62; p<0.001) but not distant metastases (5-year risk, 58.2% vs. 53.9%; HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.77-1.91; p=0.40). There were no differences in overall survival (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.56-1.09; p=0.14) or cancer-specific survival (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.57-1.21; p=0.33). Findings were consistent on propensity score-matched sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, trimodality therapy was associated with a lower risk of locoregional failure, but this did not translate into a significantly lower risk of distant failure or improved survival. Further studies are required to accurately estimate the trade-offs between the two treatment strategies.

A comparative assessment of ACS NSQIP-predicted and actual surgical risk outcomes of robotic transhiatal esophagectomy for esophageal adenocarcinoma resection at a high volume institution

Esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence is increasing in Western nations. There has been a shift toward minimally invasive approaches for transhiatal esophagectomy (THE). This study compares the outcomes of robotic THE for esophageal adenocarcinoma resection at our institution with the predicted metrics from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, we prospectively followed 83 patients who underwent robotic THE from 2012 to 2023. Predicted outcomes were determined using the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator. Our outcomes were compared with these predicted outcomes and with general outcomes for transhiatal esophagectomy reported in ACS NSQIP, which includes a mix of surgical approaches. The median age of patients was 70 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of 26.4 kg/m2 and a male prevalence of 82%. The median length of stay was 7 days. The rates of any complications and in-hospital mortality were 16% and 5%, respectively. Seven patients (8%) were readmitted within a 30-day postoperative window. The median survival is anticipated to surpass 95 months. Our outcomes were generally aligned with or surpassed the predicted ACS NSQIP metrics. The extended median survival of over 95 months highlights the potential effectiveness of robotic THE in the resection of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Further exploration into its long-term survival benefits and outcomes is warranted, along with studies that provide a more direct comparison between robotic and other surgical approaches.

Effect of nutrition-based prehabilitation on the postoperative outcomes of patients with esophagogastric cancer undergoing surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Meta-analyses have primarily focused on the effects of exercise-based prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes and ignored the role of nutritional intervention. In this study, we filled this gap by investigating the effect of nutrition-based prehabilitation on the postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy and gastrectomy.

METHODS

Five electronic databases, namely, PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL, were searched. Adults diagnosed with esophagogastric cancer who were scheduled to undergo surgery and had undergone uni- or multimodal prehabilitation, with at least a week of mandatory nutritional intervention, were included. Forest plots were used to extract and visualize the data from the included studies. The occurrence of any postoperative complication was considered the primary endpoint.

RESULTS

Eight studies met the eligibility criteria, with five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies. In total, 661 patients were included. Any prehabilitation, that is, unimodal (only nutrition) and multimodal prehabilitation, collectively decreased the risk of any postoperative complication by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-0.90). A similar effect was exclusively observed for multimodal prehabilitation (risk ratio [RR] = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.66-0.93); however, it was not significant for unimodal prehabilitation. Any prehabilitation significantly decreased the length of hospital stay (LOS) (weighted mean difference = -0.77, 95% CI = -1.46 to -0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Nutrition-based prehabilitation, particularly multimodal prehabilitation, confers protective effects against postoperative complications after esophagectomy and gastrectomy. Our findings suggest that prehabilitation slightly decreases LOS; however, the finding is not clinically significant. Therefore, additional rigorous RCTs are warranted for further substantiation.

Effect of perioperative oral care on postoperative infections in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

This systematic review aimed to assess the effect of non-pharmacologic perioperative oral hygiene care on reduced incidence of postoperative pneumonia (PP), surgical site infection (SSI), and the length of hospital stay in patients with cancer, and to describe the details of oral hygiene care.

METHODS

We searched seven databases. Eligibility criteria were based on perioperative oral hygiene care provided by healthcare professionals to patients aged ≥18 years who were surgically treated under general anesthesia and were evaluated for the incidence of PP and SSI. We reported risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes for PP and SSI using a fixed-effects model of meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 850 articles, among which two were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 21 were observational studies. Most studies indicated that dentists and medical care providers performed a combination of oral cleaning, and oral hygiene instructions. In RCTs, perioperative oral hygiene care significantly reduced the incidence of PP (RR, 0.86; p = .60), while in observational studies, perioperative oral hygiene care significantly reduced the incidence of PP (RR, 0.55; p < .001) and SSI (RR, 0.47; p < .001). The length of hospital stay was also significantly reduced (p < .05). However, the effectiveness of nursing intervention was not clear.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative oral hygiene care implemented by healthcare professionals prevented PP and SSI and reduced length of hospital stays for patients after cancer surgery. As daily perioperative oral hygiene care is performed by nurses, it is necessary to research the effects of oral hygiene by nurses in the future.

Preoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction: A 6-year national surgical quality improvement (NSQIP) database analysis

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leak is a serious complication after esophagectomy that has been associated with worse outcomes. However, identifying patients at increased risk for anastomotic leak remains challenging.

METHODS

Patients were included from the 2016 to 2021 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database who underwent elective esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction for cancer. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with anastomotic leak.

RESULTS

A total of 4,331 patients were included in the study, of whom 647 patients experienced anastomotic leak (14.9%). Multivariable logistic regression revealed higher odds of anastomotic leak with smoking (adjusted odds ratio 1.24, confidence interval 1.02-1.51, P = .031), modified frailty index-5 score of 1 (adjusted odds ratio 1.44, confidence interval 1.19-1.75, P = .002) or 2 (adjusted odds ratio 1.52, confidence interval 1.19-1.94, P = .000), and a McKeown esophagectomy (adjusted odds ratio 1.44, confidence interval 1.16-1.80, P = .001). Each 1,000/μL increase in white blood cell count was associated with a 7% increase in odds of anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, confidence interval 1.03-1.10, P = .0005). Higher platelet counts were slightly protective, and each 10,000/ μL increase in platelet count was associated with 2% reduced odds of anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 0.98, confidence interval 0.97-0.99, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, smoking status, frailty index, white blood cell count, McKeown esophagectomy, and platelet counts were all associated with the occurrence of anastomotic leak. These results can help to inform surgeons and patients of the true risk of developing anastomotic leak and potentially improve outcomes by providing evidence to improve preoperative characteristics, such as frailty.

Impact of pulmonary complications following esophagectomy on long-term survival: multivariate meta-analysis and restricted mean survival time assessment

Pulmonary complications (PC) are common after esophagectomy and their impact on long-term survival is not defined yet. The present study aimed to assess the effect of postoperative PCs on long-term survival after esophagectomy for cancer. Systematic review of the literature through February 1, 2023, was performed. The included studies evaluated the effect of PC on long-term survival. Primary outcome was long-term overall survival (OS). Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were secondary outcomes. Restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD), hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as pooled effect size measures. Eleven studies were included (3423 patients). Overall, 674 (19.7%) patients developed PC. The RMSTD analysis shows that at 60-month follow-up, patients not experiencing PC live an average of 8.5 (95% CI 6.2-10.8; p < 0.001) months longer compared with those with PC. Similarly, patients not experiencing postoperative PC seem to have significantly longer CSS (8 months; 95% CI 3.7-12.3; p < 0.001) and DFS (5.4 months; 95% CI 1.6-9.1; p = 0.005). The time-dependent HRs analysis shows a reduced mortality hazard in patients without PC at 12 (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.51-0.69), 24 (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), 36 (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55-0.79), and 60 months (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.89). This study suggests a moderate clinical impact of PC on long-term OS, CSS, and DFS after esophagectomy. Patients not experiencing PC seem to have a significantly reduced mortality hazard up to 5 years of follow-up.

An esophagectomy surgical Apgar score-based nomogram-a risk-based postoperative triage system: a phase II randomised trial

Background

The esophagectomy surgical Apgar score (eSAS) has been found to be a predictor of postoperative complications in esophagectomy. In our previous study, we built a graphic nomogram based on eSAS and demonstrated that it can effectively predict the risk of major morbidity after esophagectomy. In this study, we aimed to assess the benefits of using an eSAS-based nomogram model as a postoperative risk-based triage system for patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Methods

We enrolled 119 patients diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma and randomly assigned them to a nomogram group (NG) or control group (CG) from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients in the NG were assigned to a low-risk group and high-risk group based on the nomogram. Patients in the high-risk group were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after esophagectomy. Risk estimation in the CG patients was based on the surgeon's clinical experience. Thirty-day major complications, postoperative hospital stay, hospital costs, and quality of life (QOL) during the follow-up were compared between the two groups.

Results

Baseline clinicopathological characteristics were comparable between the NG (n=58) and CG (n=61). All patients underwent esophagectomy. Postoperative complications were significantly higher in the CG (30, 49.2%) than in the NG (14, 24.1%) (P=0.008), with pneumonia being the most common (CG: 23, 37.7%; NG: 12, 20.7%; P=0.042). There was no significant difference in anastomotic leakage (NG: 1, 1.7%; CG: 6, 9.8%; P=0.12). Postoperative median hospital stay was shorter in the NG (14 days) than in the CG (16 days) (P=0.041). Hospital costs (NG: ¥60,045.1; CG: ¥63,961.5; P=0.21) and postoperative QOL did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions

An eSAS-based nomogram as a triage system can reduce the overall occurrence of postoperative complications and shorten postoperative hospital stay without increasing hospital costs.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900021636.

Long-Term Impact of Severe Postoperative Complications after Esophagectomy for Cancer: Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Severe postoperative complications (SPCs) may occur after curative esophagectomy for cancer and are associated with prolonged hospital stay, augmented costs, and increased in-hospital mortality. However, the effect of SPCs on survival after esophagectomy is uncertain.

AIM

To assess the impact of severe postoperative complications (SPCs) on long-term survival following curative esophagectomy for cancer, we conducted a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to December 2023. The included studies examined the relationship between SPCs and survival outcomes, defining SPCs as Clavien-Dindo grade > 3. The primary outcome measure was long-term overall survival (OS). We used restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to calculate pooled effect sizes. Additionally, we applied the GRADE methodology to evaluate the certainty of the evidence.

RESULTS

Ten studies (2181 patients) were included. SPCs were reported in 651 (29.8%) patients. The RMSTD overall survival analysis shows that at 60-month follow-up, patients experiencing SPCs lived for 8.6 months (95% Cis -12.5, -4.7; p < 0.001) less, on average, compared with no-SPC patients. No differences were found for 60-month follow-up disease-free survival (-4.6 months, 95% CIs -11.9, 1.9; p = 0.17) and cancer-specific survival (-6.8 months, 95% CIs -11.9, 1.7; p = 0.21). The GRADE certainty of this evidence ranged from low to very low.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a statistically significant detrimental effect of SPCs on OS in patients undergoing curative esophagectomy for cancer. Also, a clinical trend toward reduced CSS and DFS was perceived.

Pre-operative psoas muscle index, a surrogate for sarcopenia; as a predictor of post-esophagectomy complications

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy is the standard of care for curative esophageal cancer. However, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Esophageal cancer is known to negatively affect the nutritional status of patients and many manifest cancer sarcopenia. At present, measures of sarcopenia involve complex and often subjective measurements. We assess whether the Psoas Muscle Index (PMI); an inexpensive, simple, validated method used to diagnose sarcopenia, can be used to predict adverse outcomes in patients after curative esophagectomy.

METHODS

Multi-centre, retrospective cohort between 2010-2020, involving all consecutive patients undergoing curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in University Malaya Medical Centre, Sungai Buloh Hospital, and Sultanah Aminah Hospital. The cut-off value differentiating low and normal PMI is defined as 443mm2/m2 in males and 326326 mm2/m2 in females. Complications were recorded using the Clavien-Dindo Scale.

RESULTS

There was no statistical correlation between PMI and major post-esophagectomy complications (p-value: 0.495). However, complication profile was different, and patients with low PMIs had higher 30-day mortality (21.7%) when compared with patients with normal PMI (8.1%) (p-value: 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Although PMI did not significantly predict post-esophagectomy complications, low PMI correlates with higher 30-day mortality, reflecting a lower tolerance for complications among these patients. PMI is a useful, inexpensive tool to identify sarcopenia and aids the patient selection process. This alerts healthcare professionals to institute intensive physiotherapy and nutritional optimization prior to esophagectomy.

Association between fibrosis around the tumor and postoperative infectious complication in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent preoperative therapy

BACKGROUND

Multidisciplinary treatment combining chemotherapy, chemo radiation therapy (CRT), and surgery has been utilized for advanced esophageal cancer. However, preoperative treatment could cause postoperative inflammation and complications. We hypothesized that fibrosis surrounding tumor tissue caused by preoperative treatment could induce postoperative systemic inflammation and influence postoperative complications.

METHODS

Surgical specimens from patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent preoperative CRT (38 cases) or chemotherapy (77 cases) and those who received no preoperative treatment (49 cases) were evaluated to measure the fibrotic area adjacent to the tumor (10 mm from the tumor edge) by applying Azan staining. Pleural effusion and peripheral blood serum interleukin-6 levels were analyzed to evaluate local and systemic postoperative inflammation in 37 patients.

RESULTS

The fibrotic areas around the tumors were significantly larger in patients who underwent preoperative CRT than in patients who underwent chemotherapy (p < 0.001) or who had received no preoperative therapy (p < 0.001). Infectious complications were higher in patients who underwent preoperative CRT than chemotherapy (p = 0.047) or surgery alone (p < 0.001). The patients with larger fibrotic areas had more infectious complications (p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis showed that both a large fibrotic area and preoperative CRT were correlated with infectious complications, but not significantly. Pleural effusion interleukin-6 was significantly higher in patients who underwent preoperative CRT than in patients who received no preoperative therapy (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

A large fibrotic peritumoral esophageal tissue area after preoperative treatment could cause postoperative inflammatory response and infectious complications.

Long-term survival is not affected by severity of complications following esophagectomy

INTRODUCTION

Outcomes following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer have continued to improve over the last 30 years. Post-operative complications impact upon peri-operative and short-term survival but the effect on long-term survival remains debated. This study aims to investigate the effect of post-operative complications on long-term survival following esophagectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent an esophagectomy between January 2010 and January 2019 were included from a single high-volume center. Data was collected contemporaneously. Patients were separated into three groups; those who experienced no, or very minor complications (Clavien-Dindo 0 or 1), minor complications (Clavien-Dindo 2), and major complications (Clavien-Dindo 3-4), at 30 days. To correct for short-term mortality effects, those who died during the index hospital admission were excluded. Overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log rank testing.

RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 721 patients. There were 42.4% (306/721), 29.5% (213/721) and 25.7% (185/721) in the Clavien-Dindo 0-1, Clavien-Dindo 2, and Clavien-Dindo 3-4 group respectively. Seventeen patients (2.4%) died during their index hospital admission and were therefore excluded. There was no significant difference between median survival across the 3 groups (50, 57 and 52 months). Across all 3 groups, overall long-term survival rates were equivalent at 1 (87.5%, 84.9%, 83.2%), 3 (59.7%, 59.6%, 54.2%), and 5 years (43.9%, 48.9%, 45.7%) (p = 0.806). The only factors independently associated with survival in this cohort, were male gender, Charlson comorbidity index, and overall pathological stage of disease.

CONCLUSION

Long-term survival is not affected by peri-operative complications, irrespective of severity, following esophagectomy. Further study into the long-term quality of life is required.

Perioperative Risk Factors for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

Background

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are the most prevalent complication after esophagectomy and are associated with a worse prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the perioperative risk factors for PPCs after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

Methods

Seven hundred and sixty-seven consecutive patients who underwent McKeown MIE via thoracoscopy and laparoscopy were retrospectively studied. Patient characteristics, perioperative data, and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results

The incidence of PPCs after MIE was 25.2% (193/767). Univariate analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR] 1.022, P = 0.044), male sex (OR 2.955, P < 0.001), pulmonary comorbidities (OR 1.746, P = 0.032), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 2.821, P = 0.003), former smoking status (OR 1.880, P = 0.001), postoperative albumin concentration (OR 0.941, P = 0.007), postoperative creatinine concentration (OR 1.011, P = 0.019), and perioperative transfusion (OR 2.250, P = 0.001) as risk factors for PPCs. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for PPCs were male sex (OR 3.135, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.088, P = 0.002), COPD (OR 2.480, P = 0.012), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR 2.057, P = 0.035), postoperative albumin concentration (OR 0.929, P = 0.002), and perioperative transfusion (OR 1.939, P = 0.013). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the predictive model generated by multivariate logistic regression analysis was 0.671 (95% confidence interval 0.628-0.713).

Conclusions

Male sex, BMI, COPD, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, postoperative albumin concentration, and perioperative transfusion were independent predictors of PPCs after MIE.

Association of clonal haematopoiesis with severe postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) is an age-associated clonal expansion of blood cells driven by leukaemia-associated somatic mutations. Although CH has been reported to be a risk factor for leukaemia and a number of non-haematopoietic diseases, its role in perioperative medicine remains unexplored.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, prospective, observational study. Patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy were enrolled, and peripheral blood samples were collected for DNA sequencing. Patients with haematopoietic somatic mutations (variant allele frequencies ≥1%) in the DNMT3A gene, TET2 gene, or both were defined as CH carriers. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥3). The secondary outcomes included the major types of postoperative complications, mortality, and other common perioperative variables.

RESULTS

Clonal haematopoiesis was found in 21.2% (33/156) of the patients (mean age: 66 yr [range: 26-79 yr]; 83% males). Some 14/33 (42.4%) patients with CH had severe postoperative complications, compared with patients without CH carriers (28/123 [22.8%]; P=0.024). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CH was associated with an increased risk of developing severe postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-9.66; P=0.010). Among the major postoperative complications, the incidence of pulmonary complications was significantly higher in the patients with CH than in those without CH (15 in 33 [45.5%] vs 30 in 123 [24.4%], P=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Clonal haematopoiesis was associated with a higher incidence of severe postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy, suggesting that clonal haematopoiesis can play an important role in perioperative medicine.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2100044175 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=123193).

Clinical Outcomes of Preserving Bronchial Arteries During Radical Esophagectomy: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pneumonia is a common and major cause of mortality after radical esophagectomy. Intraoperative preservation of the bronchial arteries is often aimed at avoiding tracheobronchial ischemia; however, it is unknown whether this contributes to a reduction in postoperative pneumonia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We enrolled 348 consecutive patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at Toranomon Hospital from January 2011 to July 2018. We classified patients into a bronchial artery-resected (BA-R) group (n = 93) and a bronchial artery-preserved (BA-P) group (n = 255) and compared the incidence of postoperative pneumonia between the two groups. A propensity score-matching analysis for bronchial artery preservation versus resection was performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 182 patients were matched. Univariate analysis of the propensity score-matched groups showed that Brinkman index ≥ 400, vital capacity (%VC) < 80%, and bronchial artery resection were associated with the development of postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate analysis revealed three significant factors associated with postoperative pneumonia: Brinkman index ≥ 400 [p = 0.006, odds ratio (HR) 3.302, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.399-7.790], %VC < 80% (p = 0.034, HR 6.365, 95% CI 1.151-35.205), and bronchial artery resection (p = 0.034, HR 2.131, 95% CI 1.060-4.282). The incidence of postoperative complications (CD grade III) was higher in the BA-R group (BA-R 42.8% versus BA-P 27.5%, p = 0.030). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups at 5 years (BA-R 63.1% versus BA-P 72.1%, p = 0.130).

CONCLUSION

Preserving the bronchial artery is associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative pneumonia.

Evaluation of indocyanine green tracheobronchial fluorescence (ICG-TBF) via nebulization during minimally invasive esophagectomy

Surgical manipulation of the tracheobronchial complex is a contributing factor in pulmonary morbidity of esophagectomy. Accurate dissection between membranous trachea and bronchi with esophagus is essential. This study tests the feasibility of delivering indocyanine green (ICG) in an aerosol form to achieve tracheobronchial fluorescence (ICG-TBF). Patients with esophageal and esophagogastric junction carcinoma (N = 37) undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy (McKeown type) were included. ICG was aerosolized by nebulization in supine position before thoracoscopy. ICG-TBF was observed with real-time fluorescence-enabled camera. Intra- and postoperative complications related to ICG were the primary focus. ICG-TBF was identified in 94.6% (35/37) of patients with median time to fluorescence identification of 15 minutes (range 1-43). There were no airway injuries in the study. The ICU median stay was 2 (range 2-21) days. No intra- or postoperative complications attributable to ICG were observed. Grade 3 or 4 pulmonary complications were seen in total 8.1% patients. No 90-day postoperative mortality was seen. ICG delivered in aerosol form was found to be safe and effective in achieving ICG-TBF. It aided in accurate dissection of esophagus from the tracheobronchial complex. Further studies on effect of ICG-TBF in decreasing pulmonary complications of esophagectomy are needed.

No difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between abdominal laparoscopy and laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy: a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide Japanese database

INTRODUCTION

There remains a lack of evidence regarding the optimal abdominal approach, including laparoscopy, hand-assisted, and open laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy. We aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative complications, particularly pulmonary complications, between laparoscopy and open laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy using nationwide Japanese databases.

METHODS

Data from patients in the National Clinical Database (NCD) who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were analyzed. The incidence of pulmonary complications was compared between abdominal laparoscopy and laparotomy after matching the propensity scores (PS) from preoperative factors to account for confounding bias. Laparoscopic-assisted surgery (LAS) was also compared to hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS).

RESULTS

Of the 24,790 patients who underwent esophagectomy between 2018 and 2021, data from 12,633 underwent thoracoscopic procedure. The proportion of patients who experienced pulmonary complications did not significantly differ between the laparoscopy group and the laparotomy group after matching (664/3195 patients, 20.8% versus 702/3195 patients, 22.0%; P = 0.25). No difference in the incidence of pulmonary complications was observed among patients treated using the laparoscopic approach (508/2439 patients, 20.8% in the LAS group versus 498/2439 patients, 20.4% in the HALS group; P = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between laparoscopy and laparotomy for thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Short-term outcomes were similar between the laparoscopic-assisted approach and the hand-assisted approach. This study provides valuable insights into the optimal abdominal approach for thoracoscopic esophagectomy using data from a nationwide database that reflect real-world clinical practice.

Comparison of two different methods for lymphadenectomy along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by minimally invasive esophagectomy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Lymph nodes along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (LRLN) is thought to be highly involved in esophageal cancer. Given the unique anatomical positioning of the nerve, performing lymphadenectomy in this region requires advanced techniques within limited working space. Meanwhile, high incidence of morbidity and mortality is associated with lymphadenectomy. Although several methods have been applied to reduce the technical requirement and the incidence of postoperative complication, the optimal method remains controversial.

METHODS

This study was a single-center, prospective, randomized trial to investigate the utility of lymphadenectomy along the LRLN during the minimally invasive esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients by comparing the surgical outcome, postoperative complication, survival rate, and quality of life (QoL) between the retraction method (RM) and the suspension method (SM) in patients with esophageal cancer from June 2018 to November 2020. QoL was assessed according to questionnaire: EQ-5D-5L.

RESULTS

Of 94 patients were enrolled and randomized allocated to RM and SM group equally. Characteristics did not differ between groups. The duration of lymph node dissection along LRLN was significant longer in SM group ( P <0.001). No difference was observed about postoperative complications. One of in-hospital death was occurred in each group ( P >0.999). Patients in neither of groups exhibiting difference about 3-year disease-free survival rate ( P =0.180) and overall survival rate ( P =0.430). No difference was observed in postoperative QoL between groups at different time points (all, P >0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both methods of lymph node dissection along the LRLN during minimally invasive esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients are technically feasible and safe. The RM appears more favorable in terms of reducing surgical duration compared to the SM.

Stroke volume variation and dynamic arterial elastance predict fluid responsiveness even in thoracoscopic esophagectomy: a prospective observational study

PURPOSE

It remains unknown whether stroke volume variation (SVV), pulse pressure variation (PPV), and dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn) are suitable for monitoring fluid management during thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) in the prone position with one-lung ventilation and artificial pneumothorax. Our study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of SVV, PVV, and Eadyn in predicting the fluid responsiveness in these patients.

METHODS

We recruited 24 patients who had undergone TE. Patients with a mean arterial blood pressure ≤ 65 mmHg received a 200-ml bolus of 6% hydroxyethyl starch over 10 min. Fluid responders showed the stroke volume index ≥ 15% 5 min after the fluid bolus. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated and area under the ROC curve (AUROC) was calculated.

RESULTS

We obtained 61 fluid bolus data points, of which 20 were responders and 41 were non-responders. The median SVV before the fluid bolus in responders was significantly higher than that in non-responders (18% [interquartile range (IQR) 13-21] vs. 12% [IQR 8-15], P = 0.001). Eadyn was significantly lower in responders than in non-responders (0.55 [IQR 0.45-0.78] vs. 0.91 [IQR 0.67-1.00], P < 0.001). There was no difference in the PPV between the groups. The AUROC was 0.76 for SVV (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.89, P = 0.001), 0.56 for PPV (95% CI 0.41-0.71, P = 0.44), and 0.82 for Eadyn (95% CI 0.69-0.95, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SVV and Eadyn are reliable parameters for predicting fluid responsiveness in patients undergoing TE.

Effects of high flow nasal cannula following minimally invasive esophagectomy in ICU patients: A prospective pre-post study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Patients with esophageal cancer who undergo minimally invasive esophagectomy are at risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy delivers humidified, warmed positive airway pressure but has not been applied routinely after surgery. Here, we aimed to compare high-flow nasal cannula and conventional oxygen therapy in patients with esophageal cancer during intensive care unit hospitalization 48 h postoperatively.

METHODS

In this prospective pre- and post-intervention study, patients with esophageal cancer who underwent elective minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and were extubated in the operation room and admitted to the intensive care unit postoperatively were assigned to receive either high-flow nasal cannula (HFNCO) or standard oxygen (SO) therapy. Participants in the SO group were recruited before January 2020, and those in the HFNCO group were enrolled after January 2020. The primary outcome was the difference in postoperative pulmonary complication incidence. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of desaturation within 48 h, PaO2/FiO2 within 48 h, anastomotic leakage, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, and mortality.

RESULTS

The standard oxygen and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen groups comprised 33 and 36 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. In the HFNCO group, postoperative pulmonary complication incidence was significantly reduced (22.2% vs 45.5%) and PaO2/FiO2 was significantly increased. No other between-group differences were observed.

CONCLUSION

HFNCO therapy significantly reduced postoperative pulmonary complication incidence after elective MIE in patients with esophageal cancer without increasing the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Comparison of wide and narrow gastric conduit in esophageal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Gastric conduit is most widely used method for esophageal reconstruction. Despite its popularity, certain complications, such as anastomotic leakage and strictures, remain to be resolved. In the present study, we reviewed the outcomes of narrow gastric conduit compared to wide gastric conduit reconstruction.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 493 patients with esophageal cancer who received esophagectomy with reconstruction in Taichung Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan between January 2010 and December 2019. We performed gastric conduit reconstruction with two different methods, narrow gastric conduit made of multistaples (more than four staples) and wide gastric conduit made of two or three staples. Among the 493 patients, 170 patients underwent wide gastric conduit formation and 323 patients underwent narrow gastric conduit. After propensity score matching, 140 patients from each group were matched by 1:1.

RESULTS

The average anastomotic leakage rate is 80 of 493 (16.23%). The leakage rate, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and ICU stay were significantly lower in the narrow gastric conduit group than in the wide gastric conduit group. The need for postoperation dilatation was significantly higher in wide gastric conduit group (19.41% vs 11.76%, p = 0.0217), and the time to first dilatation was similar in both groups ( p = 0.9808). Similar results were observed even after propensity score matching. In univariate analysis, the narrow gastric conduit, circular stapler, video-assisted thoracic surgery, and laparoscopic surgery were associated with a reduced risk of anastomotic leakage. However, these factors are not statistically significant in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The narrow gastric conduit is not inferior to the wide gastric conduit and can be considered an alternative option for gastric conduit preparation.

Analysis of the short-term outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic using data from a nationwide Japanese database

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had adversely impacted cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. We investigated the change in medical resource, such as the intensive care unit use, and short-term outcomes after esophagectomy during the pandemic.

METHODS

Data of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer registered in the National Clinical Database (NCD) in Japan from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed. The time series change in the number of surgical cases; usage of intensive care unit; incidence of morbidity and mortality; standardized mortality and morbidity ratio (SMR) for 30-days mortality; surgical mortality; and morbidities for pneumonia, sepsis, unplanned intubation, and anastomotic leakage were evaluated.

RESULTS

The annual number of patients undergoing esophagectomy remained similar from 2018 to 2021. The negative impact of the pandemic on medical resources was strongly identified in the patients from an epidemic area where there is a higher cumulative number of infections per population as compared to all prefectures. The proportions of patients admitted to the intensive care unit were 91.4%, 93.0%, 91.6%, and 90.5% in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Moreover, 93.3%, 94.0%, 92.0%, and 90.9% patients who underwent surgery in an epidemic area were admitted to the intensive care unit in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. However, the morbidity and mortality rates during the pandemic did not worsen according to the SMR values.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophagectomy was performed during the pandemic despite limited medical resources by a systematic endeavor of the entire surgical department in Japan, without increasing the incidence rate of worse outcome.

Risk factors for postoperative infections in esophageal tumor patients

Postoperative infections (PI) are a serious complication after esophageal cancer surgery, as they might be correlated with an elevated risk of death. While several reports discuss risk factors for PI in esophageal tumor surgery, there is a limited amount of research on overall postoperative infections. Therefore, investigating the factors that influence PI holds great clinical significance. We retrospectively reviewed surgical data from a cohort of 902 patients diagnosed with esophageal tumors. The study included esophageal cancer patients treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Anyang Tumor Hospital from January to December 2021. Preoperative and operative risk factors for PI were evaluated using univariable and multivariable analyses. The overall incidence of PI was 28.3% (255/902). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking and preoperative hospital stays are significant risk factors for PI after esophageal tumor surgery. Smoking and preoperative hospital stays are identified as risk factors for PI following esophageal tumor surgery. Based on our results, we predict that certain groups of patients may have a higher risk of PI following esophageal tumor surgery. Preventive measures or closely monitor of these patients may be required to reduce the incidence of postoperative PI.

Short-term and long-term effects of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after robotic esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) was reported to have superiority in upper mediastinal lymph nodes dissection than traditional approach, but related injuries to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLNI) cannot be avoided. Considering that there is no study centering on RLNI during robotic manipulation, this study aimed to investigate the impact of RLNI on the short-term and long-term outcomes after RAMIE.

METHODS

Patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who underwent RAMIE from June 2015 to July 2019 were collated from a prospectively maintained database. Short-term and long-term outcomes of RLNI were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 409 patients were included with the incidence of RLNI being 18.6% (76/409). A higher rate of postoperative pulmonary complications including pneumonia (P < 0.001) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (P = 0.041) was associated with RLNI, requiring more interventions for bronchoscopy airway suction (P < 0.001), tracheal reintubation (P = 0.013) and tracheostomy (P < 0.001). Patients with RLNI had a prolonged length of hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (P < 0.001). With the median follow-up time of 48.7 (interquartile range [IQR]:27.6-60.9) months, recurrence in regional lymph nodes at mediastinum did not differ between groups (P = 0.351). Similarly, the Kaplan-Meier curves revealed no significant divergency for overall survival after RLNI (P = 0.452).

CONCLUSIONS

RLNI after robotic esophagectomy is a serious morbidity associated with an increased rate of pulmonary complications, prolonged length of hospitalization with limited influence on long-term prognosis.

Effect of Anastomotic Leak on Long-Term Survival After Esophagectomy: Multivariate Meta-analysis and Restricted Mean Survival Times Examination

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a serious complication after esophagectomy. It is associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased costs, and increased risk for 90-day mortality. Controversy exists concerning the impact of AL on survival. This study was designed to investigate the effect of AL on long-term survival after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through October 30, 2022. The included studies evaluated the effect of AL on long-term survival. Primary outcome was long-term overall survival. Restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD), hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as pooled effect size measures.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies (7118 patients) were included. Overall, 727 (10.2%) patients experienced AL. The RMSTD analysis shows that at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months, patients not experiencing AL live an average of 0.7 (95% CI 0.2-1.2; p < 0.001), 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-2.6; p < 0.001), 2.6 (95% CI 1.6-3.7; p < 0.001), 3.4 (95% CI 1.9-4.9; p < 0.001), and 4.2 (95% CI 2.1-6.4; p < 0.001) months longer compared with those with AL, respectively. The time-dependent HRs analysis for AL versus no AL shows a higher mortality hazard in patients with AL at 3 (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.54-2.34), 6 (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.39-1.75), 12 (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.24-1.54), and 24 months (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

This study seems to suggest a modest clinical impact of AL on long-term OS after esophagectomy. Patients who experience AL seem to have a higher mortality hazard during the first 2 years of follow-up.

Survival impact of surgical site infection in esophageal cancer surgery: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

Aim

This study was performed to evaluate the oncological impact of surgical site infection (SSI) and pneumonia on long-term outcomes after esophagectomy.

Methods

The Japan Society for Surgical Infection conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 407 patients with curative stage I/II/III esophageal cancer at 11 centers from April 2013 to March 2015. We investigated the association of SSI and postoperative pneumonia with oncological outcomes in terms of relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

Ninety (22.1%), 65 (16.0%), and 22 (5.4%) patients had SSI, pneumonia, and both SSI and pneumonia, respectively. The univariate analysis demonstrated that SSI and pneumonia were associated with worse RFS and OS. In the multivariate analysis, however, only SSI had a significant negative impact on RFS (HR, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.36; P = 0.010) and OS (HR, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-3.01; P < 0.001). The presence of both SSI and pneumonia and the presence of severe SSI had profound negative oncological impacts. Diabetes mellitus and an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of III were independent predictive factors for both SSI and pneumonia. The subgroup analysis showed that three-field lymph node dissection and neoadjuvant therapy canceled out the negative oncological impact of SSI on RFS.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that SSI, rather than pneumonia, after esophagectomy was associated with impaired oncological outcomes. Further progress in the development of strategies for SSI prevention may improve the quality of care and oncological outcomes in patients undergoing curative esophagectomy.

What is the best reconstruction procedure after esophagectomy? A meta-analysis comparing posterior mediastinal and retrosternal approaches

Thoracic esophagectomy is a particularly invasive and complicated surgical procedure, with a reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach, jejunum, or colon. The posterior mediastinal, retrosternal, and subcutaneous routes are the three possible esophageal reconstruction routes. Each route has advantages and disadvantages, and the optimal reconstruction route after esophagectomy remains controversial. Additionally, the best anastomotic techniques after esophagectomy in terms of location (Ivor Lewis or McKeown) and suturing (manual or mechanical) are debatable. Our meta-analysis investigating postoperative complications after esophagectomy between the posterior mediastinal and retrosternal routes revealed that the posterior mediastinal route was associated with a significantly lower anastomotic leakage rate than the retrosternal route (odds ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.70-0.87, p < 0.0001). Conversely, pulmonary complications (odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-1.11, p = 0.19) and mortality between the posterior mediastinal and retrosternal routes (odds ratio = 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.56-1.12, p = 0.19) were not significantly different. However, the incidence of pneumonia may be lower when using the retrosternal route rather than the posterior mediastinal route for performing minimally invasive esophagectomy. The McKeown procedure is oncologically necessary for tumors located above the carina to dissect upper mediastinal and cervical lymph nodes; however, the Ivor Lewis procedure offers perioperative and oncological safety for tumors located under the carina. An individualized treatment strategy for selecting the optimal reconstruction procedure can be proposed in future studies based on oncological and patient risk factors considering mid- to long-term quality of life.

A nationwide validation of the prognostic impact of pathological response and the distribution of recurrence patterns in responders after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that postoperative recurrence in responders occurred in the regional field mostly as a solitary lesion without distant failure. However, further validation is necessary due to the low percentage of pathological responders, especially those with pCR. This study aimed to validate the prognostic impact of pathological response and the distribution of residual tumors in pathological responders using a nationwide database from 85 Japanese esophageal centers.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent subtotal esophagectomy at 85 authorized institutes for esophageal cancer between 2010 and 2015. The recurrence free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and recurrent tumor patterns were compared among the pathological responses.

RESULTS

Of 4781 patients initially enrolled, 3840 were selected for subsequent analysis, including 237 patients with pathological complete response (pCR, 6%). The RFS and OS were significantly correlated with pathological response. When the recurrence pattern was classified into regional or distant recurrence, the incidence of distant failure was significantly lower in patients with pCR in cT1/2. Three percent of all patients with pCR in cT1/2 encountered postoperative recurrence in distant organs.

CONCLUSION

The prognostic impact of pathological response was reproduced in the nationwide data. pCR in ESCC patients with cT1/2 provides a favorable prognosis with less incidence of distant failure. This finding may contribute to selecting appropriate candidates for an organ preservation approach based on the response to induction therapy.

The cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury is a novel risk factor for postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is common during preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between AKI after preoperative chemotherapy and postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients who had received preoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin and underwent surgical resection for esophageal cancer under general anesthesia from January 2017 to February 2022 at an education hospital. A predictor was stage 2 or higher cisplatin-induced AKI (c-AKI) defined by the KDIGO criteria within 10 days after chemotherapy. Outcomes were postoperative complications and length of hospital stays. Associations between c-AKI and outcomes including postoperative complications and length of hospital stays were examined with logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Among 101 subjects, 22 developed c-AKI with full recovery of the estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) before surgery. Demographics were not significantly different between patients with and without c-AKI. Patients with c-AKI had significantly longer hospital stays than those without c-AKI [mean (95% confidence interval (95%CI)) 27.6 days (23.3-31.9) and 43.8 days (26.5-61.2), respectively, mean difference (95%CI) 16.2 days (4.4-28.1)]. Those with c-AKI had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and prolonged weight gain after surgery and before the events of interest despite having comparable eGFR trajectories after surgery. c-AKI was significantly associated with anastomotic leakage and postoperative pneumonia [odds ratios (95%CI) 4.14 (1.30-13.18) and 3.87 (1.35-11.0), respectively]. Propensity score adjustment and inverse probability weighing yielded similar results. Mediation analysis showed that a higher incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients with c-AKI was primarily mediated by CRP levels (mediation percentage 48%).

CONCLUSION

c-AKI after preoperative chemotherapy in esophageal cancer patients was significantly associated with the development of postoperative complications and led to a resultant longer hospital stay. Increased vascular permeability and tissue edema due to prolonged inflammation might explain the mechanisms for the higher incidence of postoperative complications.

Evaluation of Endoscopic Response Using Deep Neural Network in Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Received Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that endoscopic response evaluation can preoperatively predict the prognosis and distribution of residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). In this study, we developed artificial intelligence (AI)-guided endoscopic response evaluation using a deep neural network to discriminate endoscopic responders (ERs) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after NAC.

METHOD

Surgically resectable ESCC patients who underwent esophagectomy following NAC were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Endoscopic images of the tumors were analyzed using a deep neural network. The model was validated with a test data set using 10 newly collected ERs and 10 newly collected non-ER images. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the endoscopic response evaluation by AI and endoscopists were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

Of 193 patients, 40 (21%) were diagnosed as ERs. The median sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV values for ER detection in 10 models were 60%, 100%, 100%, and 71%, respectively. Similarly, the median values by the endoscopist were 80%, 80%, 81%, and 81%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This proof-of-concept study using a deep learning algorithm demonstrated that the constructed AI-guided endoscopic response evaluation after NAC could identify ER with high specificity and PPV. It would appropriately guide an individualized treatment strategy that includes an organ preservation approach in ESCC patients.

Esophagectomy Complications Impact Long-term Survival: A National Cancer Database Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of prolonged length of stay (LOS) after esophagectomy on long term survival.

BACKGROUND

Complications after esophagectomy have a significant impact in short-term survival. The specific effect of prolonged LOS after esophagectomy is unclear. We hypothesized that postoperative complications that occur after esophagectomy, resulting in prolonged LOS, have a detrimental effect on long term survival.

METHODS

All patients undergoing esophagectomy between 2004 and 2014 were identified in the National Cancer Database. To eliminate the confounding effect of short-term mortality, we included only patients who survived at least 90 days postoperatively. Demographics, disease characteristics, and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Postoperative LOS was used as a surrogate for postoperative complications. The highest quintile of LOS was defined as excessive LOS (ELOS). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were performed to examine survival.

RESULTS

A total of 20,719 patients were identified. Of those 3826 had ELOS, with median LOS 26days (range 18-168days). Their median survival was 30.6 months compared to 53.6 months in the entire non-ELOS group (P < 0.0001). After multivariate analysis ELOS (odds ratio 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.46-1.67) was an independent predictor of overall mortality. Higher disease stage, higher age, male sex, higher Charlson/Deyo comorbidity score, and readmission after discharge were also significant negative predictors of long-term survival, whereas surgery in an academic institution, being at the highest income quartile and having private or Medicare insurance predicted longer survival (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Postoperative complications after esophagectomy, resulting in ELOS, predict lower long-term survival independent of other factors. Counseling patients about surgery should include the detrimental long-term effects of postoperative complications and ELOS. Avoiding ELOS (LOS exceeding 18 days) could be considered a quality metric after esophagectomy.

Risk stratification of postoperative cardiopulmonary toxicity after trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer

Purpose/objective

Postoperative toxicity for esophageal cancer impacts patient quality of life and potentially overall survival (OS). We studied whether patient and toxicity parameters post-chemoradiation therapy predict for post-surgical cardiopulmonary total toxicity burden (CPTTB) and whether CPTTB was associated with short and long-term outcomes.

Materials/methods

Patients had biopsy-proven esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy. CPTTB was derived from total perioperative toxicity burden (Lin et al. JCO 2020). To develop a CPTTB risk score predictive for major CPTTB, recursive partitioning analysis was used.

Results

From 3 institutions, 571 patients were included. Patients were treated with 3D (37%), IMRT (44%), and proton therapy (19%). 61 patients had major CPTTB (score ≥ 70). Increasing CPTTB was predictive of decreased OS (p<0.001), lengthier post-esophagectomy length of stay (LOS, p<0.001), and death or readmission within 60 days of surgery (DR60, p<0.001). Major CPTTB was also predictive of decreased OS (hazard ratio = 1.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-2.47, p=0.005). The RPA-based risk score included: age ≥ 65, grade ≥ 2 nausea or esophagitis attributed to chemoradiation, and grade ≥ 3 hematologic toxicity attributed to chemoradiation. Patients treated with 3D radiotherapy had inferior OS (p=0.010) and increased major CPTTB (18.5% vs. 6.1%, p<0.001).

Conclusion

CPTTB predicts for OS, LOS, and DR60. Patients with 3D radiotherapy or age ≥ 65 years and chemoradiation toxicity are at highest risk for major CPTTB, predicting for higher short and long-term morbidity and mortality. Strategies to optimize medical management and reduce toxicity from chemoradiation should be strongly considered.

Effect of Thoracic Surgery Regionalization on 1- and 3-Year Survival after Cancer Esophagectomy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether our previously reported improvements in short-term cancer esophagectomy outcomes after large-scale regionalization in the United States translated to longer-term survival benefit.

BACKGROUND

Regionalization is associated with better early postoperative outcomes following cancer esophagectomy; however, data regarding its effect on long-term survival are mixed.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 461 patients undergoing cancer esophagectomy before (2009-2013, N = 272) and after (2014-2016, N = 189) regionalization. Kaplan-Meier curves and chi-square tests were used to describe 1- and 3-year survival in each era. Hierarchical logistic regression models examined the adjusted effect of regionalization on mortality.

RESULTS

Compared to pre-regionalization patients, post-regionalization patients had significantly higher 1-year survival (83.1% vs 73.9%, P = 0.02) but not 3-year survival (52.9% vs 58.2%, P = 0.26).Subgroup analysis by cancer stage revealed that 1-year survival benefit was only significant among mid-stage (IIB-IIIB) patients, whereas differences in 3-year survival only approached significance among early-stage (IA-IIA) patients.In multivariable analysis, only regionalization was a predictor of lower mortality at 1 year [odds ratio (OR) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-1.00], and only thoracic specialty at 3years (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-0.99). Older age, more advanced stage, and complications were associated with higher 1- and 3-year mortality. Comorbidity, minimally invasive approach, surgeon volume, facility volume, and neoadjuvant treatment were not significant in this model.

CONCLUSIONS

Regionalization was associated with improved 1-year survival after cancer esophagectomy, independent of factors such as morbidity or volume in our adjusted models. This survival benefit did not persist at 3 years, likely due to the aggressive nature of the disease.

Old age and intense chemotherapy exacerbate negative prognostic impact of postoperative complication on survival in patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy: a nationwide study from 85 Japanese esophageal centers

BACKGROUND

The prognostic impact of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU (DCF) reported in JCOG1109 was successfully validated using real-world data in patients < 75 years old. However, DCF was not reported to be beneficial in elderly patients with a relatively higher postoperative complication incidence. This study aimed to clarify the impact of postoperative complications on the prognosis of ESCC and the difference in the magnitude of the impact by age and regimen.

METHODS

Patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent subtotal esophagectomy at 85 authorized institutes were retrospectively reviewed from 2010 to 2015. The prognostic impact of postoperative anastomotic leakage (AL) and pneumonia on survival was evaluated. The prognostic value of the postoperative complications was assessed by stratifying patients according to age and neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

RESULTS

Patients with AL, pneumonia, and infectious complications (ICs: a combination of pneumonia and AL) showed significantly worse overall survival (OS). IC served as a negative prognostic factor of OS and recurrence-free survival, and its negative prognostic impact was more evident in patients aged > 75 years. When the patients were further stratified by chemotherapeutic regimens, using the CF/IC(-) group as a reference, the DCF/IC (+) group showed significantly shorter OS in patients aged > 75 years with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.551. The HR of the CF/IC (+) group was 1.503.

CONCLUSIONS

The negative impact of postoperative complications on survival was confirmed in this nationwide study. Furthermore, its magnitude was higher in elderly patients who received triplet chemotherapy.

Interventions targeting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and narrative discussion

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) represent the most common complications after esophageal cancer surgery. The lack of a uniform reporting nomenclature and a severity classification has hampered consistency of research in this area, including the study of interventions targeting prevention and treatment of PPCs. This systematic review focused on RCTs of clinical interventions used to minimize the impact of PPCs. Searches were conducted up to 08/02/2021 on MEDLINE (OVID), CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and the COCHRANE library for RCTs and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 339 citations, with a pooled dataset of 1,369 patients and 14 RCTs, were included. Heterogeneity of study design and outcomes prevented meta-analysis. PPCs are multi-faceted and not fully understood with respect to etiology. The review highlights the paucity of high-quality evidence for best practice in the management of PPCs. Further research in the area of intraoperative interventions and early postoperative ERAS standards is required. A consistent uniform for definition of pneumonia after esophagectomy and the development of a severity scale appears warranted to inform further RCTs and guidelines.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is common in the developing world with decreasing incidence in developed countries and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Major risk factors for ESCC development include significant use of alcohol and tobacco. Screening for ESCC can be recommended in high-risk populations living in highly endemic regions. The treatment of ESCC ranges from endoscopic resection therapy or surgery in localized disease to chemoradiotherapy in metastatic disease, and prognosis is directly related to the stage at diagnosis. New immunotherapies and molecular targeted therapies may improve the dismal survival outcomes in patients with metastatic ESCC.

Preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Complications After Esophageal Resection That can be Used as Inclusion Criteria for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

Background

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported as an indicator for poor prognosis in many cancers including esophageal cancer. However, the relationship between the NLR and postoperative complications after esophageal cancer resection remains unclear. At present, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) lacks inclusion criteria. The aim of this study is to determine whether the preoperative NLR (_preNLR) can predict complications after esophageal cancer resection, which could represent the criteria for ERAS.

Methods

This was a retrospective study on 171 patients who underwent esophagectomy at Hospital between November 2020 and November 2021(68 patients from Changhai Hospital, 65 patients from Shanghai General Hospital and 38 patients from Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to demonstrate that the _preNLR could predict complications after esophagectomy.

Results

A _preNLR cutoff value of 2.30 was identified as having the greatest ability to predict complications with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 65%. Moreover, the Chi-squared test results showed that the _preNLR was significantly associated with complications (x²= 13.641, p < 0.001), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), p stage and _preNLR were independent variables associated with the development of postoperative complications (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The _preNLR can predict complications after esophagectomy, and these predicted complications can represent the criteria for recruiting patients for ERAS.