Esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction for benign disease: extreme but important

Development of a novel technique for esophageal reconstruction via oral-vestibule-enteral anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Narrowing, trauma, tumors, and systemic diseases can cause esophageal dysfunction. Severe cases resist traditional surgery, leading to long-term gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes, affecting patients negatively. No established surgery ensures both airway and oral function with proper speech. This article introduces the oral-vestibule-enteral anastomosis (OVEA) technique, targeting patients with compromised epiglottic closure competence and loss of cervical esophagus, where conventional methods fall short.

METHODS

Technique description study evaluated in 13 patients in a single tertiary referral center in Mexico City treated with OVEA from January 1990 to July 2023.

RESULTS

Of the 13 patients (69% male; mean age, 37.14 ± 12.907 years), preoperative conditions included a mean body mass index of 17.78 ± 2.66 kg/m2, 46% with previous abdominal surgeries, and 31% with a smoking history. After OVEA, complications affected 46%, primarily pneumonia (23%), abscess formations (15%), intestinal necrosis (8%), and airway fistula (8%). Reoperation was needed in 38%, addressing functionality loss, necrosis, stenosis, and jawbone remodeling. No fatalities occurred within the first 6 months after surgery; 84% had successful gastrostomy tube removal, and 8% retained a tracheostomy tube. Currently 13 patients (92%) use the OVEA as their main enteral route of feeding.

CONCLUSION

The OVEA technique seems promising for cases involving esophageal loss or impaired epiglottic function, enhancing patients' quality of life by enabling oral feeding and restoring regular eating habits. Further research should focus on long-term results and identifying optimal candidates for this innovative surgical method.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy learning curves with different types of background experience

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a complex procedure with learning associated morbidity. The aim was to evaluate the learning curve for MIE focusing on short-term outcomes in two settings: (I) experienced MIE surgeon in new hospital (Hospital 1); (II) surgeons experienced with open esophagectomy and minimally invasive surrogate surgery (Hospital 2).

METHODS

In Hospital 1 and Hospital 2, on intent-to-treat basis number of MIEs were 132 and 57, respectively. The primary outcomes were major complications and anastomosis leaks. Secondary outcomes were operative time, blood loss, lymph node yield, hospital stay and 1-year mortality. Length of learning curves were analyzed with risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) method.

RESULTS

In Hospital 1, major complication and anastomosis leak rates were 9.8% and 4.5%, 22.8% and 12.3% in Hospital 2, respectively. In Hospital 1, complication and leak rates remained stable. In Hospital 2, improvement occurred after 34 cases in major complications and 29 cases in leaks. Of secondary outcomes, improvements were seen in Hospital 1 in operative time after 61, blood loss after 86, lymph node yield after 52, hospital stay after 19 and 1-year mortality after 24 cases. In Hospital 2, improvement occurred in operative time after 30, blood loss after 15, lymph node yield after 45, hospital stay after 50 and 1-year mortality after 15 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study, learning phase of the individual surgeon determines the outcomes of MIE, not the institutional learning phase.

Endoscope-assisted mediastinal drainage therapy for anastomosis leakage after esophagectomy: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Anastomosis leakage after esophagectomy is a major threat which leads to many subsequent complications even mortality. But current diagnosis and treatment methods are inefficient. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the utilization of endoscope-assisted mediastinal drainage therapy in treatment for anastomosis leakage after esophagectomy.

Methods

Between January 2014 and June 2018, 51 patients were confirmed anastomosis leakage using gastroscopy. Of them, 23 patients were treated with endoscope-assisted mediastinal drainage therapy (drainage group); and the other 28 patients received endoscope-assisted biomedical fibrin glue occlusion (occlusion group). Short-term clinical outcomes were examined. Factors related to length of postoperative hospitalization (LPH) was analyzed.

Results

Endoscope provided highly accurate information on the condition of anastomosis leakage. And there was no evidence that early endoscopy could cause damage to the anastomosis or gastric conduit. One patient from drainage group and two from occlusion group discharged against medical advice. Other 48 patients were completely cured without reoperation or mortality. The median LPH was 32 days in drainage group (range from 17 to 80 days) and 81 days in occlusion group (range from 32 to 190 days), respectively (P<0.05). Linear regression indicated statistically significant correlation between LPH and length from diagnosis to drainage or occlusion (R=0.688, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Endoscope-assisted mediastinal drainage therapy is a satisfactory treatment for anastomosis leakage. Early diagnosis and treatment may facilitate the recovery of anastomosis leakage and reduce LPH.

Influencing factors of postoperative early delayed gastric emptying after minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

The main clinical treatment for esophageal cancer is surgery. Since traditional open esophageal cancer resection has the disadvantages of large trauma, long recovery period, and high postoperative complication rate, its clinical application is gradually reduced. The current report of minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy (MIILE) is increasing. However, researchers found that patients with MIILE had a higher incidence of early delayed gastric emptying (DGE).

AIM

To investigate the influencing factors of postoperative early DGE after MIILE.

METHODS

A total of 156 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer at Deyang People's Hospital were enrolled. According to the criteria of DGE, patients were assigned to a DGE group (n = 49) and a control group (n = 107). The differences between the DGE group and the control group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to further determine the influencing factors of postoperative early DGE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess potential factors in predicting postoperative early DGE.

RESULTS

Age, intraoperative blood loss, chest drainage time, portion of anxiety score ≥ 45 points, analgesia pump use, postoperative to enteral nutrition interval, and postoperative fluid volume in the DGE group were higher than those in the control group. Perioperative albumin level in the DGE group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Age, anxiety score, perioperative albumin level, and postoperative fluid volume were independent factors influencing postoperative early DGE, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for anxiety score was 0.720. The optimum cut-off value was 39, and the sensitivity and specificity were 80.37% and 65.31%, respectively. The AUC for postoperative fluid volume were 0.774. The optimal cut-off value was 1191.86 mL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 65.3% and 77.6%, respectively. The AUC for perioperative albumin level was 0.758. The optimum cut-off value was 26.75 g/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 97.2% and 46.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Advanced age, postoperative anxiety, perioperative albumin level, and postoperative fluid volume can increase the incidence of postoperative early DGE.