Tubo gástrico isoperistáltico de grande curvatura gástrica com sutura mecânica no tratamento cirúrgico do câncer de esôfago irressecável

ASSESSMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MANUAL SUTURE IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE PHARYNGOESOPHAGEAL DIVERTICULUM

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of the pharyngoesophageal, or Zenker diverticulum is not frequent in the national scenario, and the technique of the diverticulectomy with cricomyotomy in medium and great dimension diverticula is still the most indicated. Because the resection of the diverticulum requires the suture of the pharynx, dehiscence can occur, thereafter delaying swallowing. Hence, the idea is to accomplish this surgical procedure, comparing the manual and mechanical suture, in order to evaluate the real benefit of the mechanical technique.

AIM

To evaluate the results of the pharyngoesophageal diverticulectomy with cricomyotomy using manual and mechanical suture with regard to local and systemic complications.

METHOD

Fifty-seven patients with pharyngoesophageal diverticula diagnosed through high digestive endoscopy and pharyngeal esophagogram were studied. The applied surgical technique was diverticulectomy with myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle, done in 24 patients (42.2%) the mechanical suture (group A) with the mechanical linear suture device and in 33 (57.8%) a manual closure of the pharynx (group B).

RESULTS

In the postoperative period, one patient of group A (4.1%) presented fistula caused by dehiscence of the pharyngeal suture, and three of group B (15.1%) presented the same complication, with a good outcome using a conservative treatment. In the same group, three patients (9.0%) presented stenosis of the suture of the pharynx, with good outcome and with endoscopic dilatations, and no patient from group A presented such complication. Lung infection was present in five patients, being two (8.3%) of group A and three (9.0%) on B, having good outcomes after specific treatment. In the late review, done with 43 patients (94.4%) of group A and 22 (88.0%) on B, the patients declared to be pleased with the surgical procedure, because they were able to regain normal swallowing.

CONCLUSION

The diverticulectomy with myotomy and pharyngeal closure using mechanical suture was proven appropriate, for having restored regular swallowing in most of the patients, and the mechanical closure of the pharynx proved to be more effective in comparison to the manual one, because it provided a lower index of local post-surgical complications.

Complications of the rescue esophagectomy in advanced esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Even though the esophageal cancer has innumerous treatment options its prognosis is still unsettled. Because esophagectomy is rarely curative, new and emerging therapies come to light such as isolated chemotherapy and radiotherapy or combined chemoradiation, followed or not by surgery. The rescue esophagectomy is an alternative for those patients with recurrent or advanced disease.

AIM

To evaluate the results of the rescue esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer who had previously undergone chemoradiation and describe local and systemic complications of the procedure.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with chemoradiation followed by rescue esophagectomy. All of them presented the preoperative clinical conditions required to indicate the surgical procedure. Transthoracic esophagectomy with right side thoracotomy plus midline laparotomy was performed. Patients were evaluated with regard to any postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There were five patients with evidence of fistula at the level of the anastomosis, and four of them progressed satisfactorily. Postoperative dilation was needed in five out of eighteen patients due to stenosis of the esophagogastric suture line. Seven patients did develop pulmonary infection with a fatal outcome for two of them. Among the patients who were available for a five-year follow-up, there was a rate of 53.8% of disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

These patients presented an elevated morbidity of the procedure related to many factors such as the long period between chemoradiation and surgery, which leads to tissue injury resulting in anastomotic fistulas. Nevertheless, esophagectomy seems to be valuable in cases without any other therapeutic option.

Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum surgical therapy using linear stapling device

BACKGROUND

Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum presents itself as an uncommon disorder. Thus, choosing the most effective treatment method may be challenging. Surgical treatment remains as the main option. However, establishing the best surgical technique is still controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the results of diverticulecomy with chricopharyngeal miotomy and linear stapler closure of the pharynx in a patient sample with Zenker`s diverticulum regarding local and systemic complications.

METHODS

Nineteen patients with pharyngoesophageal diverticulum were admitted. All of them presented the clinical conditions required to indicate the surgical procedure. Patients were evaluated with regard to any post-operative complications. This study was conducted retrospectively with patients' data analysis.

RESULTS

Patients showed satisfactory results, with no evidence of fistula at the level of the pharyngeal suture. Two out of 19 lost post-operative follow-up and one of them had pharyngeal stenosis reverted with endoscopic dilation. The entire sample reported being satisfied with the procedure emphasizing improvement of the quality of life mainly due to the return of physiological deglutition.

CONCLUSION

The diverticulectomy with myotomy and posterior pharyngeal closure with linear surgical stapler proved to be an effective technique, offering a lower risk of post-operative complications and improving the overall quality of life.