Treatment of esophageal perforation with a covered expandable metal stent

Closure of colonic deep mural injury and perforation with endoclips

INTRODUCTION

colorectal perforations are one of the most feared complications after performing an endoscopic resection. The use of endoclips is considered for the management of these complications.

OBJECTIVES

to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of endoclips in the management of perforations and deep mural injuries that occur after an endoscopic colorectal resection.

METHODS

a prospective cohort of consecutively included patients was used with a diagnosis of perforation or deep mural injury after an endoscopic colorectal resection treated with endoclips in our institution. The rates of perforation and deep mural injury were obtained. The factors associated with an unfavorable evolution after the placement of the endoclips were analyzed.

RESULTS

after 342 endoscopic mucosal resections (EMR) and 42 endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD), there were 25 cases with perforation or deep mural injury. The deep mural injury rate was 3.22 % and 7.14 % in the case of EMR and ESD, respectively. The perforation rate was 1.46 % and 14.29 % in the case of EMR and ESD, respectively. Successful closure with endoclips was achieved in 24 cases (96 %). Only one patient presented an unfavorable evolution (10 %) after successful closure. The factors associated with an unfavorable evolution were the presence of diffuse peritoneal symptoms and a perforation size greater than or equal to 10 mm.

CONCLUSION

endoscopic closure with endoclips is effective to avoid surgery in cases of deep mural injury or perforation after an endoscopic resection.

Endoscopic management of iatrogenic perforations during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal polyps: a case series

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic perforation during therapeutic colonoscopy, reported in up to 1% of endoscopic mucosal resections (EMRs) and up to 14% of endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESDs), has conventionally been an indication for surgery.

AIMS

We present a case series of successful endoscopic management of iatrogenic colorectal perforation during EMR and ESD, demonstrating the feasibility and safety of the method.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a database of patients undergoing EMR and ESD for colorectal polyps in a tertiary referral centre in the United Kingdom.

RESULTS

Four cases of perforation were identified (two EMRs and two ESDs) in a series of 218 procedures (1.8%), all detected at the time of endoscopy and managed with endoscopic clips. Patients were observed in hospital and treated with antibiotics. Their median length of stay was 3 days (range 2-6 days), with no mortality or need for surgery.

CONCLUSION

Surgery is no longer the first choice in the management of iatrogenic perforations during EMR and ESD for colorectal polyps; in selected patients with small perforations and minimal extraluminal contamination, conservative management with application of endoscopic clips, antibiotics and close patient monitoring constitute a safe and effective treatment option, avoiding the morbidity of major surgery.

Closure of a Chronic, Non-Healing Tracheoesophageal Fistula With a New Over-the-Scope Clip

Tracheoesophageal fistulas can arise from both benign and malignant conditions, and often present clinically as increased secretions, coughing with or without hypoxia after swallowing, and recurrent aspiration pneumonia. We describe a tracheoesophageal fistula in a post-chemotherapy lymphoma patient that was closed with use of an over-the-scope Aponos clip.

Feasibility and safety of endoscopic transesophageal access and closure using a Maryland dissector and a self-expanding metal stent

BACKGROUND

Secure access and reliable closure is paramount in the setting of transesophageal mediastinal endoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study was to develop a secure transesophageal access technique and to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a novel covered, self-expanding, retractable stent for closure of 15-mm esophageal defects.

METHODS

Fifteen-millimeter esophagotomies were created in 18 domestic pigs using needle knife puncture and balloon dilatation or a blunt dissection technique. Six animals were randomly assigned to open surgical repair and six animals to endoscopic closure using a self-expanding, covered, nitinol stent (Danis SX-ELLA stent, ELLA-CS) in a nonsurvival setting. Pressurized leak tests were performed on all closures. Six animals underwent transesophageal endoscopic mediastinal interventions and survived for 17 days. Stents were extracted at day 10.

RESULTS

Nonsurvival experiments revealed two bleeding complications associated with the needle-knife access technique, while blunt-dissection mediastinal access was not associated with any complications. Leak test results were not different for stent compared to surgical closures. All survival animals were found to have complete closure and adequate healing of the esophagotomies. No leakage or infectious complication occurred.

CONCLUSION

Blunt dissection achieves safe access into the mediastinum. Stent closure achieves similar leak test results compared to surgical closure and results in adequate sealing and wound healing of 15-mm esophageal defects.

Conservative management for an esophageal perforation in a patient presented with delayed diagnosis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Esophageal perforation is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Successful therapy depends on the size of the rupture; the time elapsed between rupture and diagnosis, and the underlying health of the patient. Common causes of esophageal perforation include medical instrumentation, foreign-body ingestion, and trauma.

CASE REPORT

A case of esophageal perforation due to fish bone ingestion in a 67-year-old male is described here, with a review of the pertinent literature. The patient presented with chest pain, fever and right-sided pleural effusion. Initial evaluation was nondiagnostic. The water-soluble contrast swallow test showed no evidence of leakage. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a pneumomediastinum, and right-sided hydropneumothorax.

CONCLUSION

The patient was successfully treated using conservative measures.

Conservative management for an esophageal perforation in a patient presented with delayed diagnosis: a case report review of the literature

Esophageal perforation is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Successful therapy depends on the size of the rupture; the time elapsed between rupture and diagnosis, and the underlying health of the patient. Common causes of esophageal perforation include medical instrumentation, foreign-body ingestion, and trauma. A case of esophageal perforation due to fish bone ingestion in a 67-year-old male is described here, with a review of the pertinent literature. The patient presented with chest pain, fever and right-sided pleural effusion. Initial evaluation was nondiagnostic. The water-soluble contrast swallow test showed no evidence of leakage. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a pneumomediastinum, and right-sided hydropneumothorax. The patient was successfully treated using conservative measures.

Endoscopic therapy for esophageal perforation or anastomotic leak with a self-expandable metallic stent

BACKGROUND

Leaks of the esophagus are associated with a high mortality rate and need to be treated as soon as possible. Therapeutic options are surgical repair or resection or conservative management with cessation of oral intake and antibiotic therapy. We evaluated an alternative approach that uses self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS).

METHODS

Between 2002 and 2007, 31 consecutive patients with iatrogenic esophageal perforation (n = 9), intrathoracic anastomotic leak after esophagectomy (n = 16), spontaneous tumor perforation (n = 5), and esophageal ischemia (n = 1) were treated at our institution. All were treated with endoscopic placement of a covered SEMS. Stent removal was performed 4 to 6 weeks after implantation. To exclude continuous esophageal leak after SEMS placement, radiologic examination was performed after stent implantation and removal.

RESULTS

SEMS placement was successful in all patients and a postinterventional esophagogram demonstrated full coverage of the leak in 29 patients (92%). In two patients, complete sealing could not be achieved and they were referred to surgical repair. Stent migration was seen in only one patient (3%). After removal, a second stent with larger diameter was placed and no further complication occurred. Two patients died: one due to myocardial infarction and one due to progressive ischemia of the esophagus and small bowl as a consequence of vascular occlusion. Stent removal was performed within 6 weeks, and all patients had radiologic and endoscopic evidence of esophageal healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of covered SEMS in patients with esophageal leak or perforation is a safe and feasible alternative to operative treatment and can lower the interventional morbidity rate.

Nonoperative treatment of four esophageal perforations with hemostatic clips

Spontaneous or iatrogenic esophageal perforations are despite advances of modern surgery and intensive care medicine still potentially life-threatening events with a considerable mortality rate. Recently, encouraging results on the sealing of esophageal perforations by placement of endoluminal prostheses were reported. However, if the perforation is very proximal (close to the larynx) or very distal (involving the cardia), the situation is to our experience unsuitable for stent therapy. In these special cases non-operative treatment is still possible by application of hemostatic metal clips. We present four cases unsuitable for stent therapy where the perforation was sealed by endoscopic clip application. All patients had an uneventful recovery. Non-operative treatment of esophageal perforations with hemostatic metal clips is feasible and safe in cases not treatable with self-expanding metal stents.

Treatment of large, oesophageal perforations and mediastinitis with a covered, removable metallic endoprosthesis and mediastinal drainage

A bevont fémstentek benignus nyelőcső-stenosisban és -perforatioban való alkalmazása, a stent okozta szöveti reakció és a stent eltávolítás nehézségei miatt, kezdeti stádiumban van. A szerzők nyelőcső-perforatioban egy újabb, bevont fémstent terápiás hatását és eltávolítására kidolgozott módszerük hatékonyságát vizsgálták 3 beteg kapcsán. Három beteg közül kettőnél corrosiv nyelőcsőstenosis tágításakor perforatio lépett fel. Emiatt az egyiknél mediastinalis drenázs és jejunostomia, másiknál primér sutura és drenázs történt. Ezt követően mindkettőben septicus állapot, mediastinitis alakult ki. Ennek hátterében egyiknél perforatio mellett mediastinalis drén okozta nyelőcsőfistula, a másiknál nyelőcsővarrat-elégtelenség állt. A nyelőcső falának defektusát 8, illetve 10 nappal a perforatio, műtét után bevont fémstenttel hidalták át. A harmadik beteg inoperabilis nyelőcsőtumora okozta stenosisának tágítása, stentelési kísérlete során nyelőcsőruptura lépett fel, melyet két órán belül bevont fémstenttel zárta. Parenteralis táplálást, széles spectrumú antibioticus kezelést alkalmaztak. Három nap múlva ellenőrizve mindhárom stent tölcsére tökéletesen zárt. Nasogastricus szonda-, majd per os táplálásra tértek át. Átmeneti mediastinalis drenázs után a stenteket 35, illetve 74 nappal a stentimplantatio után endoscoposan távolították el. Ez idő alatt a nyelőcsőfal-defectusok, a perforatios nyílások záródtak. A stent felső szélénél jelentkező stenosist mindkét betegnél tágították. A 3. betegnél a tumoros nyelőcsőruptura korai, végleges stentelése után szövődmény nem lépett fel. Itt drenázsra nem volt szükség. Nagy nyelőcső-perforatio – kísérő septicus állapot, mediastinitis esetén is – sikeresen gyógyítható bevont, eltávolítható fémstenttel és megfelelő mediastinalis drenázzsal.

Nonoperative treatment of 15 benign esophageal perforations with self-expandable covered metal stents

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous or iatrogenic esophageal perforations after endoscopic procedures are potentially life-threatening events with a considerable mortality rate. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a nonoperative endoscopic treatment with self-expanding metal stents may have a lower morbidity and mortality rate compared with surgical treatment.

METHODS

A nonrandomized observational study was conducted with 15 consecutive patients between January 1997 and June 2004. Benign spontaneous and iatrogenic esophageal perforations after endoscopic procedures were treated with self-expandable metal stents.

RESULTS

Seven patients (group 1) underwent stent insertion with an average time delay of 45 minutes. In 8 patients (group 2), the median delay was 123 hours. All patients in group 1 had an uneventful recovery and left hospital 5 days (range, 3 to 9) after stent insertion. One patient in group 2 (1 of 8) died of pneumonia after 6 days. In any other cases, perforations healed successfully after stent placement, but the clinical course was generally complicated with sepsis and multiple organ failure. The average hospital stay was 44 days (range, 15 to 70).

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate insertion of a self-expandable metal stent enables an excellent outcome with minimal mortality and morbidity without the need for operation. Even in cases of old esophageal perforations, sealing with self-expandable metal stents is still a good option although the clinical course is much less impressive than in early treated perforations.

Use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign GI diseases

BACKGROUND

The self-expandable metallic stent is of proven benefit in patients with malignant disease; however, its use in patients with benign disease is not well established. There are few data available regarding long-term complications and outcomes with use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign disease and virtually none regarding attempted removal once the acute problem is resolved.

METHODS

Thirteen patients who had a self-expandable metallic stent placed for benign GI disorders were included in a retrospective analysis. Data collected included patient demographics, indication for procedure, type of stent used, complications, and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (7 women, 6 men; mean age 67 years, range 34-84 years) had one or more self-expandable metallic stents placed for benign disease and were followed for a mean of 3.4 years (3 weeks to 10 years). Of the 13 patients, 8 had esophageal stents, 4 biliary stents, and 1 had dual stents placed in the pancreaticobiliary tree. Complications developed in 8 (62%) patients; 4 (31%) ultimately died, either from the primary disease process (3) or from stent-related complications (1).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-expandable metallic stent placement is effective treatment for benign esophageal leaks, providing the stent can be removed. It also may be used in either the esophagus or biliary tree in patients who are poor candidates for surgery and short expected survival. However, a self-expandable metallic stent should not be placed in a patient with a benign GI disorder who has a significant life expectancy and is a good candidate for surgery.

An update in the palliative management of malignant dysphagia

BACKGROUND

Oesophageal cancer is generally associated with late presentation and poor prognosis. Therefore palliative surgery has been largely superseded by less invasive non-surgical techniques. Once palliation is indicated, the aims of the management should be: the maintenance of oral intake, minimizing hospital stay, relief of pain, elimination of reflux and regurgitation and the prevention of aspiration.

METHODS

This study was a review of all published English language data on the palliation of malignant dysphagia between 1994-1999. The Medline and Bids databases were searched and other references were derived from the material perused.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Palliative treatment for oesophageal cancer should be individualized and relate to tumour stage, size and location, the patient's medical condition and his/her personal wishes. The palliative treatment largely includes self-expanding metal stents (SEMS), laser (including photodynamic therapy (PDT)) or a combination of the two to relieve symptoms, this may be employed with or without other treatments such as radiotherapy/chemotherapy (RT/CT) with the aim of reducing tumour bulk and possibly prolonging survival. A multi-disciplinary approach is vital in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer.

Palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction due to intrinsic and extrinsic lesions with expandable metal stents

OBJECTIVE

Metal stents have become the standard of care for esophageal stenting. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of metal stents for the palliation of dysphagia caused by extraesophageal malignancies compressing the esophagus, compared with that caused by intrinsic lesions involving the esophagus.

METHODS

Expandable metal stents were placed in 46 consecutive patients with dysphagia caused by malignant extrinsic compression of the esophagus (n=24) and intrinsic esophageal strictures (n=22). Quality of life was determined by a dysphagia score and the Karnofsky performance scale. Patients were followed until death.

RESULTS

Stents were successfully deployed in all 24 patients. Dysphagia scores improved from a median of 3 (range, 3-4; mean, 3.5+/-0.2) to a median of 2 (range, 1-4; mean, 1.6+/-0.4; p < 0.0001) in the extrinsic group, and from a median of 3 (range, 2-4) to a median of 1 (range, 1-3) in the intrinsic group (p < 0.0001). The improvement was significantly greater (p=0.01) in the intrinsic group. There was no significant difference in the Karnofsky score between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with intrinsic lesions have better palliation of dysphagia than those with extrinsic lesions. Future studies with other study designs will need to consider this.

Management of esophageal perforations after therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

BACKGROUND

Esophageal perforation is one of the most dreaded complications in therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy. We assessed the frequency of esophageal perforation after endoscopic procedures in a highly specialized endoscopy unit and compared clinical outcomes in patients undergoing either surgical or conservative management.

METHODS

From January 1985 to June 1996, 1011 instrumental endoscopic procedures (dilatation and bougienage) were performed in our department. The computerized complication database was searched to identify all patients with esophageal perforation during this same period, and their records were reviewed.

RESULTS

Seventeen esophageal perforations (1.7%) occurred in the course of 1011 procedures. Four perforations resulted from balloon dilatation, and 13 were secondary to bougienage. Six patients were managed surgically (35%), all of them recovering uneventfully. Eleven patients were managed conservatively, mainly because they were unfit for surgery. Survival rate in this group was 82%; only two patients died, both of whom had underlying malignant disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The current concept in management of esophageal perforations comprises surgical as well as medical treatment. In well-selected cases, non-operative treatment can be considered with favorable results.