Postoperative complications of minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

The comparison of uniportal versus multiportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for esophageal cancer: a propensity-weighted analysis

OBJECTIVES

The utilization of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become prevalent, notwithstanding, there are few studies exploring its application specifically in esophagectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on data collected from patients diagnosed with clinical stage T1-3/N0/M0 thoracic esophageal cancer, who underwent surgery between January 2017 and December 2020. To evaluate the outcomes, an analysis was conducted utilizing the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method.

RESULTS

This study identified 55 patients who underwent uniportal VATS and 212 patients who underwent multiportal VATS. Postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grades 1-2 occurred less frequently after uniportal than multiportal VATS in both unadjusted and IPTW-adjusted analyses (10.1% versus 28.8%, respectively; P = 0.018). Upon IPTW analysis, it indicated that the rate of pneumonia (grades 1-2) in the uniportal VATS group was 7.3%, notably lower than the corresponding rate of 23.2% observed in the multiportal VATS group (P = 0.037). Patients in uniportal VATS group had a shorter postoperative length of stay comparing with those in multiportal VATS group (9 versus 10 days, P = 0.006 after IPTW). The visual analog scale (VAS) was administered within 7 days following surgery and scores were significantly lower in uniportal VATS group (P < 0.001). No surgery-related mortality was observed in uniportal VATS group. The survival benefit observed between two groups was comparable before (P = 0.320) and after IPTW analysis (P = 0.824), indicating no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

The utilization of uniportal VATS for esophagectomy demonstrated a reduced occurrence of postoperative complications, accompanied by mitigated postoperative pain, thereby presenting as a viable and practical approach for treating esophageal cancer patients.

Impact of postoperative infectious complications on long-term prognosis after esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications have been reported to be a risk factor for worse oncologic outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer. However, the impact of postoperative complications on prognosis after esophagectomy remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the factors that influence the prognosis of postoperative complications in patients who underwent oncological esophagectomy, focusing on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

In total, 254 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 2009 and 2021 were eligible. We examined the association between postoperative complications and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Focusing on infectious complications (IC: a combination of postoperative pneumonia and anastomotic leakage), overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly worse in patients with IC than those without (p < 0.01, and <0.01, respectively), whereas the presence of other complications demonstrated no survival impact. No clinicopathological variables have changed the influence of IC on long-term outcomes. Meanwhile, patients with postoperative pneumonia exhibited significantly lower OS and RFS rates compared to those without in non-COPD group, however, the presence of postoperative pneumonia demonstrated no prognostic impact in COPD group. Also, interaction analysis revealed that the effect of postoperative pneumonia on poor RFS differed based on the presence of COPD (p for interaction = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

IC influenced the long-term outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer, however no clinicopathological variables have changed the effect of the presence of IC on prognosis. Meanwhile, the effect of postoperative pneumonia on poor survival differed based on the presence of COPD.

Essential updates 2022/2023: Recent advances in perioperative management of esophagectomy to improve operative outcomes

In the era of minimally invasive surgery, esophagectomy remains a highly invasive procedure with a high rate of postoperative complications. Preoperative risk assessment is essential for planning esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer, and it is crucial to implement evidence-based perioperative management to mitigate these risks. Perioperative support from multidisciplinary teams has recently been reported to improve the perioperative nutritional status and long-term survival of patients undergoing esophagectomy. Intraoperative management of anesthesia and fluid therapy also significantly affects short-term outcomes after esophagectomy. In this narrative review, we outline the recent updates in the perioperative management of esophagectomy, focusing on preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative management, and perioperative support by multidisciplinary teams to improve operative outcomes.

Conduit Ischemia After Esophagectomy: A Spectrum of Clinical Manifestations, Prevention, and Management

This article outlines the anatomic and physiologic basis for gastric conduit ischemia and the range of its possible manifestations, from superficial mucosal ischemia to gross conduit necrosis. Methods by which these complications are suspected and ultimately diagnosed are discussed, focusing on clinical and laboratory signs as the harbingers and the use of imaging and endoscopy for confirmation. From there, management options are detailed based on the Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group classification of esophageal leak and gastric necrosis. Finally, the short- and long-term implications of these complications are reviewed.

Comparative study of acute and chronic pain after inflatable videoasisted MediastinoscopicTranshiatal esophagectomy and minimally invasive McKeown Esophagectomy:A propensity score matching analysis

Objective

The short-term quality of life of patients can be enhanced by performing Inflatable Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopic Transhiatal Esophagectomy (IVMTE). Nevertheless, there is limited research on how it impacts postoperative acute and chronic pain in individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer.Hence, this research aimed to examine the impact of IVMTE and minimally invasive Mckeown esophagectomy (MIME) on the occurrence of acute and chronic pain following surgery in individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Methods

A retrospective, propensity score matching analysis was adopted. In total, 133 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent IVMTE and MIME between January 2020 and December 2021 were part of the study. Among them, 38 patients underwent IVMTE and 95 patients underwent MIME. Following the propensity score matching analysis, 36 patients were included in each group. Patients' postoperative pain was evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS).

Results

The IVMTE group (Group A) had significantly reduced operation time and intraoperative blood loss compared to the MIME group (Group B) (P < 0.05). NRS scores on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th days after surgery, as well as on the 3rd and 6th months post-surgery, were notably reduced in the IVMTE group (Group A) compared to the MIME group (Group B) (P < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that chronic pain occurred postoperative 3rd months was related to the operation methods (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that chronic pain occurred postoperative 6th months was related to the operation time, postoperative 14th days NRS scores and operation methods (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that chronic pain occurred postoperative 6th months was related to the operation methods (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The results showed that the operation methods were the main risk factors for postoperative chronic pain. The compared with MIME, IVMTE can further reduce the acute and chronic pain of patients with esophageal cancer.

Changes in and clinical utility of maximum phonation time and repetitive saliva swallowing test scores after esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pneumonia in patients with esophageal cancer occurs due to swallowing dysfunction and aspiration. Recently, maximum phonation time (MPT) assessment and repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST) have been focused on as swallowing function assessment methods that can identify patients as high risk for pneumonia. We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of MPT assessment and RSST in patients undergoing oncological esophagectomy.

METHODS

In total, 47 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between August 2020 and July 2023 were eligible. The perioperative changes in MPTs and RSST scores were examined. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the predictive factors of postoperative pneumonia.

RESULTS

The median MPTs before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 6, and 10 were 18.4, 7.2, 10.6, and 12.4 s, respectively; postoperative MPTs were significantly lower than preoperative MPT. In addition, the MPT of POD 6 was significantly longer than that of POD 3 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no significant changes in perioperative RSST scores. Overall, 8 of 47 patients (17.0%) developed pneumonia postoperatively. A short MPT on POD 6 was one of the independent predictive factors for the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (odds ratio: 12.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-123, P = 0.03) in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The MPT significantly decreased after esophagectomy. However, the RSST score did not. The MPT on POD6 can be a predictor of postoperative pneumonia.

Association of clonal haematopoiesis with severe postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) is an age-associated clonal expansion of blood cells driven by leukaemia-associated somatic mutations. Although CH has been reported to be a risk factor for leukaemia and a number of non-haematopoietic diseases, its role in perioperative medicine remains unexplored.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, prospective, observational study. Patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy were enrolled, and peripheral blood samples were collected for DNA sequencing. Patients with haematopoietic somatic mutations (variant allele frequencies ≥1%) in the DNMT3A gene, TET2 gene, or both were defined as CH carriers. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥3). The secondary outcomes included the major types of postoperative complications, mortality, and other common perioperative variables.

RESULTS

Clonal haematopoiesis was found in 21.2% (33/156) of the patients (mean age: 66 yr [range: 26-79 yr]; 83% males). Some 14/33 (42.4%) patients with CH had severe postoperative complications, compared with patients without CH carriers (28/123 [22.8%]; P=0.024). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CH was associated with an increased risk of developing severe postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-9.66; P=0.010). Among the major postoperative complications, the incidence of pulmonary complications was significantly higher in the patients with CH than in those without CH (15 in 33 [45.5%] vs 30 in 123 [24.4%], P=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Clonal haematopoiesis was associated with a higher incidence of severe postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical oesophagectomy, suggesting that clonal haematopoiesis can play an important role in perioperative medicine.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2100044175 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=123193).

Understanding Post-Esophagectomy Complications and Their Management: The Early Complications

Esophagectomy is a technically complex operation performed for both benign and malignant esophageal disease. Medical and surgical advancements have led to improved outcomes in esophagectomy patients over the past several decades; however, surgeons must remain vigilant as complications happen often and can be severe. Post-esophagectomy complications can be grouped into early and late categories. The aim of this review is to discuss the early complications of esophagectomy along with their risk factors, work-up, and management strategies with special attention given to anastomotic leaks.

Surgical outcomes of 500 robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomies for esophageal carcinoma

Background

In 2003, robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) was first reported to overcome the technical limitations of minimally invasive esophagectomy. RAMIE requires repeated modifications to set up the robotic system, and sufficient experience is required to gain technical proficiency. This study aimed to identify the learning periods and the outcomes of RAMIE for esophageal carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 500 consecutive RAMIE cases for esophageal cancer from December 2008 to February 2021. The learning curve for RAMIE was identified using cumulative sum analysis.

Results

In a total of 500 RAMIE patients, the Ivor Lewis and McKeown operation were performed in 267 patients (53.4%) and 192 patients (38.4%), respectively. We classified learning periods into the learning phase (first 50 cases), the developing phase (51-150 case), and the stable phase (151-500 case). The rates of vocal cord palsy (42.0% vs. 28.4%) and anastomotic leakage (10.0% vs. 6.4%) were reduced after the learning phase. The mean total operative time (420 vs. 373 min), the mean length of stay (21.6 vs. 16.7 days), and the rate of anastomotic stricture (27.0% vs. 12.4%) were significantly reduced after reaching stable phase. In the stable phase, the proportion of the Ivor Lewis operation (26.0% vs. 67.1%), neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (14.0% vs. 25.7%), and bilateral cervical node dissection cases (12.0% vs. 22.0%) were significantly increased.

Conclusions

Fifty procedures might be needed to achieve early proficiency, and extensive experience of more than 150 procedures is needed for quality stabilization.

Immediate Postoperative High Syndecan-1 is Associated with Short-Term Morbidity and Mortality After Robot-Assisted Esophagectomy: A Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Disruption of the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is associated with a poor prognosis in various clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the association between immediate postoperative serum syndecan-1 levels, a representative marker for EG degradation, and major postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing robot-assisted esophagectomy.

METHODS

Patients who underwent robot-assisted esophagectomy between 2018 and 2022 were prospectively enrolled. The primary outcome was the association between immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels and the occurrence of major postoperative morbidity and mortality within 30 days of surgery. Patients were classified into low and high syndecan-1 groups based on the optimal cut-off value of syndecan-1 for predicting major morbidity and mortality. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors for major morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 207 patients were analyzed. Patients with high syndecan-1 levels (≥48 ng/mL) showed a significantly greater incidence of unexpected returns to the operating room and anastomotic leaks and longer durations of hospital and intensive care unit stays than patients with low syndecan-1 levels (<48 ng/mL). Immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels ≥48 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-4.76), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥III (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.56-7.22), and current smoker (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.52-10.61) were independently associated with major morbidity and mortality within 30 days of esophagectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate postoperative syndecan-1 levels ≥48 ng/mL could be used for the early detection of patients at high risk of complications after robot-assisted esophagectomy.

Prognostic significance of circulating basophil counts in patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

Recent reports have suggested that basophils influence allergic reactions and tumor immunity. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the association between preoperative circulating basophil (CB) counts and the outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 783 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were eligible. The clinicopathological factors and prognoses were compared between the groups stratified by the preoperative counts of CB.

RESULTS

There were more advanced clinical T and N stages in the low CB group than in the high CB group (P = 0.01 and = 0.04, respectively). The incidences of postoperative complications were comparable between the groups. The low CB count was associated with unfavorable overall and recurrence-free survivals (P = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, low CB count was one of the independent prognostic factors for poor recurrence-free survival (HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.04-1.70; P = 0.02). In addition, hematogenous recurrence occurred more frequently in the low CB group than in the high CB group (57.6% vs. 41.4%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

A preoperative low CB count was an unfavorable prognosticator in patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Clinical advantage of transmediastinal esophagectomy in terms of postoperative respiratory complications

BACKGROUND

Although the transmediastinal approach as a radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma patients has attracted attention, its advantages over the transthoracic approach remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transmediastinal esophagectomy (TME) in terms of postoperative respiratory complications compared to that of open transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE).

METHODS

We reviewed patients with thoracic and abdominal esophageal carcinoma who underwent TME or TTE between February 2014 and November 2021. We compared postoperative respiratory complications as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included perioperative operation time, blood loss, postoperative complications, and the number of harvested mediastinal lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Overall, 60 and 54 patients underwent TME and TTE, respectively. The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for age and histological type. There were no intraoperative lethal complications in either group. The incidence of respiratory complications was significantly lower in the TME group than in the TTE group (6.7 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.03). The TME group had a shorter operation time (403 vs. 451 min, p < 0.01), less blood loss (107 vs. 253 mL, p < 0.01), and slightly higher anastomotic leakage (11.7 vs. 5.6%, p = 0.33). The number of harvested lymph nodes was similar in both groups (24 vs. 26, p = 0.10). Multivariate analysis revealed that TME is an independent factor in reducing respiratory complications (odds ratio = 0.27, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

TME for esophageal carcinoma was performed safely. TME was superior to TTE in terms of postoperative respiratory complications; however, the relatively higher frequency of anastomotic leakage should be considered and requires further evaluation.

Minimally invasive versus open esophagectomy for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (NST 1502): a multicenter prospective cohort study

Background

Whether minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is superior to open esophagectomy (OE) in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still uncertain. Therefore, this multicenter prospective study aimed to compare MIE with OE in postoperative parameters and long-term survival.

Methods

All hospitalized patients with cT1b-3N0-1M0 thoracic ESCC treated by MIE or OE were enrolled from 19 selected centers from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018. The propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to minimize the selection bias. The basic clinicopathological characteristics and 3-year overall survival (OS) as well as disease-free survival (DFS) of two groups were compared by R version 3.6.2.

Results

MIE were performed in 1,387 patients and OE in 335 patients. 335 cases in each group were finally matched by PSM, and no significant differences in the essential demographic characteristics were observed between the MIE and OE groups after PSM. Compared with OE, MIE had significantly less intraoperative bleeding, less total drainage volume, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and harvested significantly more lymph nodes (LNs) (all P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the major postoperative complications and death rates between MIE and OE. The 3-year OS and DFS were 77.0% and 68.1% in the MIE group versus 69.3% and 60.9% in the OE group (OS: P = 0.03; DFS: P = 0.09), and the rates were 75.1% and 66.5% in the MIE group versus 66.9% and 58.6% in the OE group for stage cII patients (OS: P = 0.04, DFS: P = 0.09), respectively.

Conclusions

Compared with OE, MIE is a safe and effective treatment approach with similar mortality and morbidity. It has the advantages in harvesting more LNs, improving postoperative recovery and survival of stage cII ESCC patients.

Semiprone thoracoscopic approach during totally minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy seems to be beneficial

Minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy (MIE) is widely accepted as a surgical treatment of resectable esophageal cancer. Aim of this paper is to describe the surgical details of our standardized MIE technique and its safety. We also evaluate the esophageal mobilization in semiprone compared to the left lateral position. A retrospective analysis of 141 consecutive patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for cancer, from February 2016 to September 2021, was conducted. All the procedures were performed by totally thoraco-laparoscopic with an intrathoracic end-to-side circular stapled anastomosis. Thoracic phase was performed in left lateral position (LLP-group, n=47) followed by a semiprone position (SP-group, n=94). The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were prospectively collected and analyzed. The procedure was completed without intraoperative complication in 94.68% of cases in SP-group and in 93.62% of cases in LLP-group (P=0.99). The total operative time and thoracic operative time were significantly shorter in SP-group (P=0.0096; P=0.009). No statistically significant differences were detected in postoperative outcomes between the groups, except for anastomotic strictures (higher in LLP-group, P=0.02) and intensive care unit stay (longer in LLP-group, P=00.1). No reoperation was needed in any cases. Surgical radicality was comparable; the median of harvested lymph nodes was significantly higher in SP-group (P<0.0001). The present semiprone technique of thoraco-laparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy is safe and feasible but may also provide some advantages in terms of lymph nodes harvested and total operation time.

Old age and intense chemotherapy exacerbate negative prognostic impact of postoperative complication on survival in patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy: a nationwide study from 85 Japanese esophageal centers

BACKGROUND

The prognostic impact of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU (DCF) reported in JCOG1109 was successfully validated using real-world data in patients < 75 years old. However, DCF was not reported to be beneficial in elderly patients with a relatively higher postoperative complication incidence. This study aimed to clarify the impact of postoperative complications on the prognosis of ESCC and the difference in the magnitude of the impact by age and regimen.

METHODS

Patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent subtotal esophagectomy at 85 authorized institutes were retrospectively reviewed from 2010 to 2015. The prognostic impact of postoperative anastomotic leakage (AL) and pneumonia on survival was evaluated. The prognostic value of the postoperative complications was assessed by stratifying patients according to age and neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

RESULTS

Patients with AL, pneumonia, and infectious complications (ICs: a combination of pneumonia and AL) showed significantly worse overall survival (OS). IC served as a negative prognostic factor of OS and recurrence-free survival, and its negative prognostic impact was more evident in patients aged > 75 years. When the patients were further stratified by chemotherapeutic regimens, using the CF/IC(-) group as a reference, the DCF/IC (+) group showed significantly shorter OS in patients aged > 75 years with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.551. The HR of the CF/IC (+) group was 1.503.

CONCLUSIONS

The negative impact of postoperative complications on survival was confirmed in this nationwide study. Furthermore, its magnitude was higher in elderly patients who received triplet chemotherapy.

Application of Amiodarone and Cedilan in the Treatment of Patients with Arrhythmia after Esophageal and Lung Cancer

Objective

To explore the effect of amiodarone and cedilan in the treatment of patients with arrhythmia after esophageal and lung cancer.

Methods

The data of 60 patients with postoperative complications of arrhythmias after esophageal and lung cancer from January 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into an observation group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) according to the random number grouping principle. The former group was treated with amiodarone, and the latter group received cedilan.

Results

The effective rate of treatment was significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group had the drug onset time obviously shorter than the control group (P < 0.001). The average ventricular rate after treatment in the observation group was remarkably lower than the control group (P < 0.001). The observation group exhibited obviously better cardiac function after treatment as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was notably lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the observation group had less stress after treatment than the control group (P < 0.001). The blood pressure level of the observation group after treatment was significantly better than the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Amiodarone can relieve stress in patients with arrhythmia following esophageal and lung cancer surgery, stabilize blood pressure, and mitigate arrhythmia symptoms. Our findings are worthy of promotion and application in clinic.

Application of single-port laparoscopic retrograde gastric mobilization during McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

As a novel alternative to the conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) to treat esophageal cancer, single-port laparoscopic retrograde three-step gastric mobilization (SLRM) for esophageal reconstruction during MIE to treat esophageal cancer was attempted in our department. The aim of the present study was to explore the preliminary clinical outcomes and feasibility of this innovative surgery.

METHODS

From March 2020 to November 2021, patients undergoing SLRM combined with four-port thoracoscopic McKeown esophagectomy for their esophageal cancers were reviewed. Gastric mobilization with abdominal lymph node dissection was performed through SLRM. The clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients underwent R0 resection without conversion to open surgery. The mean times needed for the thoracic part, abdominal part, and total operation were 43 ± 6 min, 60 ± 18 min, and 230 ± 20 min, respectively. The numbers of mediastinal and abdominal lymph nodes harvested were 13.2 ± 2.7 and 10.2 ± 2.5, respectively. Postoperative pneumonia was encountered in 10 (8.3%) patients. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 3 (2.5%) cases. Temporary vocal cord paralysis was reported in 20 (16.6%) cases. The mean length of hospital stay was 8.5 ± 4.6 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The SLRM is a technically feasible and safe treatment for patients with esophageal cancer. It can be considered an alternative method for patients, especially for the ones with obesity and gastric distension.

Prognostic impact of carcinoembryonic antigen in 1822 surgically treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: multi-institutional study of the Japan Esophageal Society

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have evaluated the clinicopathological significance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of esophageal cancer in relatively small numbers of patients. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of CEA in 1822 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODS

Based on the Japanese Esophageal Society nationwide multi-institutional retrospective study, a total of 1,748 surgically treated ESCC from 15 hospitals were enrolled to evaluate prognostic impact of preoperative CEA values. Among them, 605 patients were categorized to up-front surgery group, and 1,217 patients were categorized to neoadjuvant therapy group. The CEA threshold for positivity was 3.7 ng/ml. The clinicopathological and prognostic impact of CEA was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis in each treatment modality groups.

RESULTS

In total, the CEA positive rate was 25.8% (470/1822). CEA-positive status was significantly associated with distant metastasis (P = 0.004) but not associated with other factors. CEA-positive status was associated with poor overall survival (P < 0.001) in univariate analysis as well as multivariate analysis (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

CEA was an independent prognostic determinant of overall survival in esophageal SCC. Based on the subgroup analysis, regardless of the treatment modality, patients with high pretreatment CEA showed poor overall survival.

A New Risk Factor for Cervical Anastomotic Leakage-Role of The Relative Gastric Length in the Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Blood supply is especially weak near the gastric fundus. Making the anastomosis in this area would increase the risk of anastomotic leakage (AL). In cervical anastomosis, the gastric conduit needs to travel through the thorax. Therefore, the relative length between the stomach and the thorax is an essential factor in deciding if the poorly supplied area could be removed. This study was to explore if a small relative gastric length was a risk of cervical AL. If all other conditions are equal, could intrathoracic anastomosis be a better choice?

METHODS

Patients who underwent esophagectomy with a preoperative barium swallow in West China Hospital between 2014 and 2017 were included. The length of the greater curvature and the thorax were obtained from the barium esophagogram. The ratio between the length of the greater curvature and the thorax was the relative gastric length calculated from the greater curvature (RGL-G).

RESULTS

A total of 782 patients were enrolled in the final analysis. The cervical AL group had a significantly higher ratio of patients with an RGL-G less than 1.3 (26.7% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.003). The multivariate logistic regression proved that RGL-G less than 1.3 was a risk factor for cervical anastomotic leakage (p = 0.012). Correspondingly, RGL-G less than 1.3 was not a risk factor (6.3% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.289) in the intrathoracic anastomosis group.

CONCLUSIONS

RGL-G less than 1.3 was a new risk factor for cervical AL, but it would not be a problem for intrathoracic anastomosis.

C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio: a useful inflammatory and nutritional index for predicting prognosis after curative resection in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients

PURPOSE

Although C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CPR) can predict the outcomes of several types of cancer surgeries, little is known about the implication of CPR in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2018, 682 consecutive ESCC patients who underwent curative esophagectomy were enrolled. The clinicopathological factors and prognoses were compared between the groups stratified by preoperative CPR levels. A logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of postoperative pneumonia. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to elucidate prognostic factors.

RESULTS

There were more elderly patients, more males, and more advanced clinical T and N categories in the high CPR group than in the low CPR group. Also, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was significantly higher in the high CPR group than in the low CPR group (32.4% vs. 20.3%, p < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, high CPR was one of the independent predictive factors for postoperative pneumonia (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.15-2.54; p < 0.03). Moreover, high CPR was an independent prognostic factor for overall, cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survivals (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.18-2.23; p < 0.01, HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.08-2.32; p = 0.02, HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.06-1.90; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CPR was found to be a useful inflammatory and nutritional indicator for predicting the occurrence of pneumonia and prognosis in patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy.

Evaluation of International Contemporary Operative Outcomes and Management Trends Associated With Esophagectomy: A 4-Year Study of >6000 Patients Using ECCG Definitions and the Online Esodata Database

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to verify the utility of international online datasets to benchmark and monitor treatment and outcomes in major oncologic procedures.

BACKGROUND

The Esophageal Complication Consensus Group (ECCG) has standardized the reporting of complications after esophagectomy within the web-based Esodata.org database. This study will utilize the Esodata dataset to update contemporary outcomes and to monitor trends in practice in an era of rapid technical change.

METHODS

This observational study, based on a prospectively developed specific database, updates esophagectomy outcomes collected between 2015 and 2018. Evolution in patient and operative demographics, treatment, complications, and quality outcome measures were compared between patients undergoing surgery in 2015 to 2016 and 2017 to 2018.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2018, 6022 esophagectomies from 39 centers were entered into Esodata. Most patients were male (78.3%) with median age 63. Patients having minimally invasive esophagectomy constituted 3177 (52.8%), a chest anastomosis 3838 (63.7%), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy 2834 (48.7%), and R0 resections 5441 (93.5%). For quality measures, 30- and 90-day mortality was 2.0% and 4.5%, readmissions 9.7%, transfusions 12%, escalation in care 22.1%, and discharge home 89.4%. Trends in quality measures between 2015 and 2016 (2407 patients) and 2017 and 2018 (3318 patients) demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) improvements in readmissions 11.1% to 8.5%, blood transfusions 14.3% to 10.2%, and escalation in care from 24.5% to 20% A significantly (P < 0.05) reduced incidence in pneumonia (15.3%-12.8%) and renal failure (1.0%-0.4%) was observed. Anastomotic leak rates increased from 11.7% to 13.1%, whereas leaks requiring surgery decreased 3.3% and 3.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The Esodata database provides a valuable resource for assessing contemporary international outcomes. This study highlights an increased application of minimally invasive approaches, a high percentage of complications, improvements in pneumonia and key quality metrics, but with anastomotic leak rates still >10%.

Preoperative maximum phonation time as a predictor of pneumonia in patients undergoing esophagectomy

PURPOSE

Esophagectomy is a highly invasive procedure, associated with several postoperative complications including pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, and sepsis, which may result in multiorgan failure. Pneumonia is considered a major predictor of poor long-term prognosis, so its prevention is important for patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were 137 patients who underwent esophagectomy at Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, between January, 2012 and December, 2016. Patients who underwent R0 or R1 resection or esophagectomy with organ excision were included. Patients who underwent salvage surgery or resection of recurrent laryngeal nerve, and those with preoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, were excluded. We investigated the effect of the maximum phonation time on the development of postoperative pneumonia.

RESULTS

Pneumonia developed more frequently in patients with a long operative time, clinically left recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis, and a short preoperative maximum phonation time (p = 0.074, 0.046, and 0.080, respectively). Pneumonia was also more common in men with an abnormal maximum phonation time (p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

The maximum phonation time is a significant predictor of postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy in men.

Salvage thoracoscopic esophagectomy after carbon-ion radiotherapy in a patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

Background

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for esophageal cancer has been receiving significant attention given its high local control rates and minimal damage to normal tissues. However, the efficacy and safety of salvage surgery after CIRT for esophageal cancer remain unclear. We report the case of a patient who underwent salvage thoracoscopic surgery after CIRT.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old woman underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a type 0-IIa + 0-IIc esophageal squamous cell carcinoma located 27–29 cm from the patient’s incisors, classified as clinical stage I (T1bN0M0), was detected. She received CIRT (50.4 Gy [relative biological effectiveness, RBE]/12 fr) for localized esophageal cancer and achieved complete remission after 4 months. Six years after CIRT, follow-up endoscopic examination demonstrated a type 0-IIa + 0-IIc tumor in the previously treated area. In addition, a type 0-IIa lesion located 20–22 cm from the incisors was found. We diagnosed localized ESCC, classified as clinical stage I (T1bN0M0). Salvage thoracoscopic surgery was performed in the prone position with five access ports. Although the esophagus tightly adhered to the thoracic descending aorta and left main bronchus with severe fibrosis, the esophagus could be separated from the surrounding organs with careful forceps manipulation. The operation time and blood loss were 8 h 45 min and 253 mL, respectively. The patient was discharged from our hospital 17 days after the salvage surgery without any complications. Pathological findings revealed two squamous cell carcinomas. Both tumors were localized in the lamina propria mucosa, and lymph node metastasis was not detected. The tumors were diagnosed as pathological stage IA (pT1aN0M0) according to the TNM criteria. Moreover, pathological examinations showed severe fibrosis of the previously irradiated tissues compared to the normal esophagus located outside of the irradiation field. Following the surgery, the patient had no recurrence for 1 year and 6 months.

Conclusions

Thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy can be performed as salvage surgery. Careful and discreet surgery is integral to perform salvage surgery after CIRT since CIRT may cause severe adhesions and fibrosis in the irradiated field.

Dislocation of the gastric conduit reconstructed via the posterior mediastinal route is a significant risk factor for anastomotic disorder after McKeown esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic disorder of the reconstructed gastric conduit is a life-threating morbidity after thoracic esophagectomy. Although there are various reasons for anastomotic disorder, the present study focused on dislocation of the gastric conduit (DGC).

METHODS

The study cohort comprised 149 patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. The relationships between DGC and peri- and postoperative morbidities were analyzed retrospectively. Data were analyzed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) and extension of the gastric conduit were related to DGC. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with anastomotic disorder.

RESULTS

DGC was significantly related to anastomotic leakage (P < .001), anastomotic stricture (P = .018), and mediastinal abscess/empyema (P = .031). Compared with the DGC-negative group, the DGC-positive group had a significantly larger mean preoperative BMI (23.01 ± 3.26 kg/m2 vs. 21.22 ± 3.13 kg/m2, P = .001) and mean maximum cross-sectional area of the gastric conduit (1024.75 ± 550.43 mm2 vs. 619.46 ± 263.70 mm2, P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that DGC was an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage (odds ratio: 4.840, 95% confidence interval: 1.770-13.30, P < .001). Body weight recovery tended to be better in the DGC-negative group than in the DGC-positive group, although this intergroup difference was not significant.

CONCLUSION

DGC reconstructed via the posterior mediastinal route is a significant cause of critical morbidities related to anastomosis. In particular, care is required when performing gastric conduit reconstruction via the posterior mediastinal route in patients with a high BMI.

Clinical impacts of magnetic resonance thoracic ductography on preventing postoperative chylothorax after thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

The study aimed to determine whether magnetic resonance thoracic ductography (MRTD) is useful for preventing injury to the thoracic duct (TD) during thoracoscopic esophagectomy and for reducing the incidence of postoperative chylothorax.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

A total of 389 patients underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy between September 2009 and February 2019 in Tokai University Hospital. Of them, we evaluated 228 patients who underwent preoperative MRTD (MRTD group) using Adachi's classification and our novel classification (Tokai classification). Then, the clinicopathological factors of the MRTD group (n = 228) were compared with those of the non-MRTD group (n = 161), and comparative analyses were conducted after propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

The TD could be visualized by MRTD in 228 patients. The MRTD findings were divided into 9 classifications including normal findings and abnormal TD findings (Adachi classification vs Tokai classification; 5.3% vs 16.2%). After PSM, both groups consisted of 128 patients. The rate of postoperative chylothorax after thoracoscopic esophagectomy was significantly lower in the MRTD group (0.8%) than in the non-MRTD group (6.3%) (p = 0.036). In the multivariate analysis for risk factors for chylothorax, the independent prognostic factors were preoperative therapy and the presence of MRTD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that MRTD was useful for preventing of chylothorax after thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Reoperative Surgery After Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing reoperations following minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy and associated mortality and hospital costs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2013 and 2018, 125 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Outcomes included reoperations, mortality, and hospital costs. Multivariable logistic regression analyses determined factors associated with reoperations.

RESULTS

In-hospital reoperations (n=10) were associated with in-hospital mortality (n=3, P<0.01), higher hospital costs (P<0.01), and longer hospital stay (P<0.01). Conversely, reoperations after discharge were not associated with mortality. By multivariable analysis, baseline cardiovascular (P=0.02) and chronic kidney disease (P=0.01) were associated with reoperations. However, anastomotic leaks were not associated with reoperations nor mortality.

CONCLUSION

The majority of reoperations occur within 30 days often during index hospitalization. Reoperations were associated with increased in-hospital mortality and hospital costs. Notably, anastomotic leaks did not influence reoperations nor mortality. Efforts to optimize patient baseline comorbidities should be emphasized to minimize reoperations following minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Pharmacological treatment to reduce pulmonary morbidity after esophagectomy

Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is one of the most invasive procedures in gastrointestinal surgery. An invasive surgical procedure causes postoperative lung injury through the surgical procedure and one-lung ventilation during anesthesia. Lung injury developed by inflammatory response to surgical insults and oxidative stress is associated with pulmonary morbidity after esophagectomy. Postoperative pulmonary complications negatively affect the long-term outcomes; therefore, an effort to reduce lung injury improves overall survival after esophagectomy. Although significant evidence has not been established, various pharmacological treatments for reducing lung injury, such as administration of a corticosteroid, neutrophil elastase inhibitor, and vitamins are considered to have efficacy for pulmonary morbidity. In this review we survey the following topics: mediators during the perioperative periods of esophagectomy and the efficacy of pharmacological therapies for patients with esophagectomy on pulmonary complications.

Management of Postoperative Complications After Esophageal Resection

Newer surgical techniques have reduced complications and mortality following esophagectomy, but they nevertheless remain high. Data regarding complications are frequently inconsistent and, therefore, difficult to compare between groups. As a result, considerable energy is spent trying to identify best practices to minimize complications. This article reviews the rates of complications and attempts to give guidance regarding their management and outcomes.

Airflow Limitation Predicts Postoperative Pneumonia after Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is known to be a risk factor of pneumonia after esophagectomy. In this study, we investigated the relationship of airflow limitation with the occurrence and the severity of pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy.

METHODS

We enrolled 844 patients who underwent curative esophagectomy between 2009 and 2018. The airflow limitation was evaluated using the percent-predicted forced expiratory volume at 1 s (%FEV1) with spirometry.

RESULTS

There were 597 (70.7%), 141 (16.7%), 68 (8.1%), and 38 patients (4.5%) with %FEV1 of ≥ 90%, 80-90%, 70-80%, and < 70% categories, respectively. One hundred and ninety-one patients (22.6%) occurred pneumonia, and the incidences of pneumonia in each category of patients were 18.8%, 28.4%, 29.4%, and 50.0%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the categories of 80%-90%, 70-80%, and < 70% were significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative pneumonia (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.02-2.43, OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.04-3.36, OR 3.34; 95% CI 1.66-6.71, respectively), with the %FEV1 category of ≥ 90% as reference. The incidence of severe pneumonia of Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher was also significantly associated with the %FEV1. In patients without COPD, the incidence of pneumonia was significantly higher in those with %FEV1 < 90% than in those with %FEV1 ≥ 90% (32.2% versus 17.5%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The airflow limitation can help predict the occurrence of pneumonia after esophagectomy in patients with and without COPD. Exclusive preventive measures should be considered in patients with reduced %FEV1 undergoing esophagectomy.

Specific complications and limitations of robotic esophagectomy

Regardless of the approach to esophagectomy, it is an operation that may be associated with significant risk to the patient. Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) has the same potential for short- and long-term complications as does open and minimally invasive esophagectomy. These complications include among others, the risk for anastomotic leak, gastric tip necrosis, vocal cord palsy, and chylothorax. Moreover, there are additional risks that are unique to the robotic platform such as hardware or software malfunction. These risks are heavily influenced by numerous factors including the patient's comorbidities, whether neoadjuvant therapy was administered, and the extent of the surgical team's experience. The limitations of RAMIE are therefore based on the careful assessment of the patient for operability, the tumor for resectability and the team for surgical ability. This article will tackle the topic of complications and limitations of RAMIE by examining each of these issues. It will also describe the recommended terminology for reporting post-esophagectomy complications.

Prevention of intra-thoracic recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with robot-assisted esophagectomy

PURPOSE

Transthoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is one of the most invasive procedures in surgery for gastrointestinal cancer. Serious complications sometimes occur after esophageal cancer surgery, including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to access the possibility of robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in terms of preventing recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

METHODS

Operations in thoracic part were performed in prone position with bilateral ventilation. During dissection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes, thin blood vessels were coagulated with Maryland bipolar forceps in the left hand and then dissected with monopolar scissors in the right hand. Especially when dissecting left recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes, the nerve was left unisolated from the vascular sheath that involves the aortic arch. Short-term outcomes including operative time, estimated blood loss, and postoperative complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were accessed.

RESULTS

From November 2018 to January 2020, 20 patients underwent robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Thoracic operative time was 242 min, estimated blood loss in the thoracic part was minimal, the number of dissected mediastinal lymph nodes was 19 (all median), and the incidence rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and pneumonia were 10% (2 case) and 10% (2 cases), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has the possibility of reducing recurrent laryngeal nerve injury even in the introductory period. Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this advantage of the robotic surgery.