Reconstructive operations for esophagogastric corrosive lesions

Corrosive esophagogastric lesions are common in Algeria and France. Within the past 14 years, our overall mortality has decreased to 6% as compared to 12% in the best results from elsewhere. This report describes our operative experience with 68 patients from 1974 to 1982. According to a prospective interdisciplinary program, lesions in 351 patients were staged by emergency esophagoscopic findings: Stage I, ulceration; Stage II, hemorrhage and ulceration; Stage III, mucosal necrosis, hemorrhage, and ulceration. Total parenteral nutrition or jejunal feeding was given to patients with Stage II lesions for 3 weeks and to those with Stage III lesions for 3 months before repeat esophagoscopy. Operations were required by 68 patients who had Stage III lesions and severe stenosis. Procedures done included 39 retrosternal colon interpositions, 11 partial or total gastrectomies, nine esophagogastrectomies, four esophagoenteral colonic bypasses, six esophagogastric colonic interpositions following partial gastric resection, and one gastrojejunostomy. Eleven of the cervical anastomoses were to the pharynx. There were no operative deaths and no anastomotic leaks. All patients have satisfactory nutrition and rehabilitation. Our operative experience in the preceding 5 years included an 11% mortality; improved results in the past 8 years are attributed to early and accurate staging, planned multidisciplinary management, good nutritional support, and better timing of operations. Stage III esophagogastric corrosive lesions may be treated within 4 to 5 months of injury with low mortality and good functional outcome.

[Leak-proof intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis]

The procedure described is intended for lesions of the middle or lower third of the oesophagus, when 5 cm at least of proximal thoracic oesophagus can be preserved. It involves the use of a gastric tube and is facilitated by mechanical sutures. A new fundus is created, together with a sleeve that protects the anastomosis against leakage.

[Prognostic nutritional index in digestive surgery]

It is difficult to select and combine the nutritional parameters most useful in predicting the outcome of major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was to define retrospectively a multifactorial prognostic nutritional index adapted to this purpose. Seventy-eight patients on whom one or more total or partial visceral resection were performed in nonemergency conditions were included in this study. Statistical analysis was carried out to determine correlations between the preoperative nutritional parameters and the postoperative complications such as: a) wound rupture and anastomotic leakage; b) severe sepsis; c) death. Delayed hypersensitivity, assessed as normal or abnormal, together with plasmatic albumin and transferrin levels, the thresholds of which were respectively determined at 35 g/l and 2.2 g/l, were selected as the factors with the greatest predictive value. For the prognosis of postoperative severe complications and death, the sensitivity and specificity of an index using the association of these three parameters were respectively 82.7 p. 100 and 51 p. 100 with positive and negative predictive values of 50 p. 100 and 83.3 p. 100.

Total parenteral nutrition with fat emulsions during pregnancy--nutritional requirements: a case report

After a corrosive burn of the upper gastrointestinal tract leading to a severe dysphagia and to a weight loss of 15 kilograms, a 21-year-old female was treated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) during the last 7 weeks of pregnancy. TPN by complete nutritive mixtures comprised daily crystalline amino acid solutions and as energy sources glucose plus lipids, the latter representing 43% of the nonprotein calories. A term normal 2800 gram female was delivered by cesarian section. This case report demonstrates the absence of any side effects on pregnancy related to fat emulsions used in usual proportions. Among the nutritional parameters studied here, the variations of weight and creatinine height index seem to be the best indicators of the maternal nutritional status in these cases. Approximately 50 kilocalories and 220 milligrams of nitrogen per kilograms body weight daily seem to be sufficient to restore and to maintain the maternal nutritional conditions and fetal growth.

Surgical approach to corrosive injuries of the stomach

The surgical management of corrosive injuries of the stomach has not yet been clearly defined. This work analyses the results achieved with a surgical protocol included in a new therapeutic approach. This approach applied to 111 consecutive patients was based upon three points: (a) early fibroscopic examination, (b) protection of severe burns by total parenteral nutrition and (c) reparative surgery in the complete healing phase. The stomach was involved in 89 per cent of the 93 cases with proved gastrointestinal lesions; gastric lesions were isolated in 42 per cent of cases. The frequency of gastric involvement is partly related to the type of product ingested; the intensity of lesions is correlated with the quantity and the concentration of corrosive products. After a 3-month total parenteral nutrition period, reparative surgery can be performed without local complications in severe cases. Limited resections of the stomach must then be preferred when possible. In cases with total involvement bypass techniques can be carried out. Indications for early surgery are not yet well defined.

New therapeutic approach to corrosive burns of the upper gastrointestinal tract

The therapeutic approach to the management of corrosive burns of the upper gastrointestinal tract leaves a considerable morbidity and a heavy mortality rate. This work evaluates the effectiveness of a new therapeutic approach given to 94 consecutive patients. The management has been based on three major points: (1) the definition of extent of upper gastrointestinal lesions by immediate fibroendoscopy; (2) immediate protection of the upper gastrointestinal tract by total parenteral nutrition in cases with serious burns (41 cases), normal oral nutrition being allowed for minor burns (35 cases); (3) reparative surgical procedures for any of the sequelae of such burns during the fibrosing phase. The results were as follows: (a) healing, depending upon the degree of burn, occurred between eight to 90 days; (b) the frequency of subsequent local complications was small with total parenteral nutrition started a few hours after ingestion of the corrosive product; (c) after reconstructive surgery no serious complications occurred; (d) the overall morbidity stayed at a very low level (four patients). We conclude that the general prognosis of a severe burn of the upper gastrointestinal tract, without other trauma, is appreciably improved by the very early institution of total parenteral nutrition.

Functional evaluation of the transplanted lung after long-term preservation

In dogs the immediate value of transplanted lungs was tested after preservation in Collins 3 solution and administration of aprotinin. 15 animals received a left or right homograft, which had been preserved for 24 h. In 3 cases preservation time was prolonged to 48 h, and in another 2 dogs both of the lungs were replaced by 24-hour preserved organs in a one-stage operation. The value of the transplants was tested by several physiological, morphological and clinical phenomena. (1) A positive O2 uptake of the transplant after a temporary occlusion of the opposite pulmonary artery documented its capacity for gaseous exchange. (2) Scintigraphic visualization of perfusion and ventilation in 3 dogs demonstrated satisfactory results. (3) A positive response to acetylcholine of the bronchial muscular system was observed in all transplants. (4) Normal light microscopy showed a lack of obvious morphological change. (5) Only slight alterations in electron microscopy were found when compared to those found before preservation. (6) The absence of acute bronchial edema excludes the possibility of irreversible altertions of the alveolocapillary wall. The results demonstrate that preservation of the lung is possible up to a period of 48 h.