Trends in Distal Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Care: The Dutch Nationwide Ivory Study

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the nationwide trends in care and accompanied postoperative outcomes for patients with distal esophageal and gastro-esophageal junction cancer.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The introduction of transthoracic esophagectomy, minimally invasive surgery, and neo-adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy changed care for patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Patients after elective transthoracic and transhiatal esophagectomy for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma in the Netherlands between 2007-2016 were included. The primary aim was to evaluate trends in both care and postoperative outcomes for the included patients. Additionally, postoperative outcomes after transthoracic and tran-shiatal esophagectomy were compared, stratified by time periods.

RESULTS

Among 4712 patients included, 74% had distal esophageal tumors and 87% had adenocarcinomas. Between 2007 and 2016, the proportion of transthoracic esophagectomy increased from 41% to 81%, and neo-adjuvant treatment and minimally invasive esophagectomy increased from 31% to 96%, and from 7% to 80%, respectively. Over this 10-year period, postoperative outcomes improved: postoperative morbidity decreased from 66.6% to 61.8% ( P = 0.001), R0 resection rate increased from 90.0% to 96.5% (P <0.001), median lymph node harvest increased from 15 to 19 ( P <0.001), and median survival increased from 35 to 41 months ( P = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

In this nationwide cohort, a transition towards more neo-adju-vant treatment, transthoracic esophagectomy and minimally invasive surgery was observed over a 10-year period, accompanied by decreased postoperative morbidity, improved surgical radicality and lymph node harvest, and improved survival.

The diagnostic value of duplex ultrasound in detecting the presence and location of a stenosis in an autologous arteriovenous fistula

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of duplex ultrasound in the detection of significant (⩾50%) stenosis and the location of the stenosis in arteriovenous fistula, compared to angiography.

METHODS

Patients who underwent construction of an autologous arteriovenous fistula between January 2007 and December 2013 in Treant Care Group, hospital location Emmen, were included in this study. In all patients with a significantly decreased blood flow (flow <400 mL/min and/or ⩾20% decrease) measured by Transonic flowmeter before December 2016, duplex ultrasound was performed. Concordance between duplex ultrasound and angiography was analysed in all patients with a haemodynamically significant stenosis detected by duplex ultrasound.

RESULTS

In all, 63 patients had a significant decrease in blood flow leading to duplex ultrasound. In 51 (80.9%) of the 63 duplex ultrasound, a haemodynamically significant stenosis was detected. In 45 (88.2%) of these, angiography was performed, all confirming the presence of significant stenosis. In eight patients, no angiography was performed (sufficient residual blood flow (n = 7), death (n = 1)). Most stenoses were located in the venous outflow tract (75.6%). In 95.6%, a venous approach was possible during angiography. After intervention, a significant increase in blood flow was observed (from 530 mL/min to 910 mL/min (p < 0.001)).

CONCLUSION

We show that duplex ultrasound is likely reliable to ascertain the presence of arteriovenous fistula stenosis in addition to flow criteria. Also, it provides important information to select the most effective and safe approach for cannulation. Duplex ultrasound may reduce costs and burden of diagnosing stenoses.