Esofagectomia trans-hiatal no tratamento do megaesôfago chagásico avançado

MINIMALLY INVASIVE LAPAROSCOPIC ESOPHAGECTOMY VS. TRANSHIATAL OPEN ESOPHAGECTOMY IN ACHALASIA: A RANDOMIZED STUDY

BACKGROUND

Open and laparoscopic trans-hiatal esophagectomy has been successfully performed in the treatment of megaesophagus. However, there are no randomized studies to differentiate them in their results.

AIM

To compare the results of minimally invasive laparoscopic esophagectomy (EMIL) vs. open trans-hiatal esophagectomy (ETHA) in advanced megaesophagus.

METHOD

A total of 30 patients were randomized, 15 of them in each group - EMIL and ETHA. The studied variables were dysphagia score before and after the operation at 24-months follow-up; pain score in the immediate postoperative period and at hospital discharge; complications of the procedure, comparing each group. Were also studied: surgical time in minutes, transfusion of blood products, length of hospital stay, mortality and follow-up time.

RESULTS

ETHA group comprised eight men and seven women; in the EMIL group, four women and 11 men. The median age in the ETHA group was 47.2 (29-68) years, and in the EMIL group of 44.13 (20-67) years. Mean follow-up time was 33 months, with one death in each group, both by fatal aspiration. There was no statistically significant difference between the EMIL vs. ETHA scores for dysphagia, pain and in-hospital complications. The same was true for surgical time, transfusion of blood products and hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference between EMIL and ETHA in all the studied variables, thus allowing them to be considered equivalent.

Esophagectomy with gastroplasty in advanced megaesophagus: late results of omeprazole use

Objective: To analyze the late results of advanced Chagasic megaesophagus treatment by esophagectomy associated with the use of proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole) as for the incidence of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in the remaining stump. Methods : We studied patients with advanced megaesophagus undergoing esophagectomy and transmediastinal esophagogastroplasty. Patients were divided into three groups: A (20) with esophageal replacement by full stomach, without the use of omeprazole; B (20) with esophageal replacement by full stomach, with omeprazole 40 mg/day introduced after the first postoperative endoscopy and maintained for six years; and C (30) with esophageal replacement by gastric tube with use of omeprazole. Dysphagia, weight loss and BMI were clinical parameters we analyzed. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in all patients, and determined the height of the anastomosis, the aspect of the mucosa, with special attention to possible injuries arising from gastroesophageal reflux, and the patency of the esophagogastric anastomosis. Results : We studied 50 patients, 28 males (56%) and 22 (44%) females. All underwent endoscopy every year. In the first endoscopy, erosive esophagitis was present in nine patients (18%) and Barrett's esophagus, in four (8%); in the last endoscopy, erosive esophagitis was present in five patients (8%) and Barrett's esophagus in one (2%). When comparing groups B and C, there was no evidence that the manufacturing of a gastric tube reduced esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. However, when comparing groups A and C, omeprazole use was correlated with reduction of reflux complications such as esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus (p <0.005). Conclusion : The use of omeprazole (40 mg/day) reduced the onset of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus during the late postoperative period.

Mechanical cervical esophagogastric laterolateral anastomosis after esophagectomies

Among the challenges of esophagectomies, the cervical anastomosis remains challenging for its consequences, the main being the anastomotic stricture. The authors present a technique for an Orringer-fashion mechanical cervical laterolateral esophagogastric anastomosis, which reduces the rate of fistula and stenosis.

Laparoscopic transhiatal subtotal esophagectomy for the treatment of advanced megaesophagus

BACKGROUND

Chagas' disease affects about 5 to 8 million individuals in Brazil, with 5% to 8% of them developing megaesophagus. In view of the transformation of the esophagus into an inert tube unable to propel food to the stomach, and in order to prevent complications, the elected treatment for advanced megaesophagus is subtotal esophagectomy. We evaluate here the outcome of laparoscopic transhiatal subtotal esophagectomy in the treatment of advanced megaesophagus.

METHODS

Thirty patients with advanced esophagopathy, 26 with chagasic and 4 with idiopathic megaesophagus, were submitted to transhiatal subtotal esophagectomy without thoracotomy through laparoscopy and left cervicotomy. Contrast exams of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (ESD), upper digestive tract endoscopy (UDE), esophageal electromanometry, and 24-hour pHmetry were performed during the preoperative and postoperative period. With respect to the surgical technique, pyloroplasty was not performed. The cervical esophagus was dissected through a left cervicotomy and the esophagogastric anastomosis was performed between the cervical segment of the esophagus and the posterior wall of the stomach.

RESULTS

No death or conversion to open surgery occurred in the present series. Complications were observed in 8 patients (26.7%): 6 cases of pneumothorax (20%), 2 of cervical fistulas (6.7%), 7 of transient dysphonia (23.3%), and 1 of anastomotic esophagogastric stenosis (3.3%). One (3.3%) of the patients developed dysphagia for solid food after 36 months despite normal ESD, UDE, electromanometry, and 24-hour pHmetry.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results show that laparoscopic transhiatal subtotal esophagectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with an excellent postoperative outcome.