Successful management of cervicoesophageal anastomosis leak after microsurgical esophageal reconstruction: a case report and review of the literature

Reconstruction of cervical esophagus for hypopharyngeal or thyroid cancer with intractable leakage at the upper end of thoracic esophagus: A scoping review and the pedicled colon flap solution

INTRODUCTION

Patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancers or thyroid cancers often require pharyngoesophageal reconstruction after tumor ablation, but complications are frequent. Anastomotic leakage, particularly in patients receiving perioperative radiation therapy, poses a significant challenge. The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review on leakage management methods and present a novel approach: utilizing a pedicled colon flap to create a diverted conduit connected to the cervical neo-esophagus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in March 2024. Additionally, between 2004 and 2022, 17 patients underwent pedicled colon transposition to the newly reconstructed cervical neo-esophagus. Four had neoadjuvant radiation therapy for thyroid or hypopharyngeal cancer, and the pedicled colon transposition method was used to prevent anastomotic leakage after hypopharyngeal reconstruction. The other 13 suffered leakage at the junction of the cervical neo-esophagus and thoracic esophagus after reconstruction. The method involved closing the cephalic end of the thoracic esophagus and using the pedicled colon transposition to restore alimentary tract continuity.

RESULTS

The review identified 4 leakage prevention methods. In our clinical series, colon flap harvest averaged 4.5 h with no postoperative leakage observed. All patients resumed oral intake, but 65% experienced transient diarrhea that resolved within a month.

CONCLUSION

For patients who receive perioperative irradiation that complicates pharyngoesophageal reconstructions, a supercharged pedicled colon flap presents a feasible solution for managing anastomotic leakage.

Reoperative Microsurgical Free Flap Surgery: Lessons Learned

ABSTRACT

Microsurgical free flap surgery has revolutionized reconstructive surgery at most academic centers worldwide. However, free flap failures still occur even in the hands of the most experienced microsurgeon. Although we have achieved a great deal of success performing microsurgical free flap reconstruction for various indications, complications from initial free flap surgery that result in reoperation remain a small, but steady percentage. Venous flap congestion is one of the most challenging conditions that result in free flap failure if not resolved promptly. It can be caused by several conditions, and salvage for venous congestion is often difficult and time consuming. Over 20 years, the senior author has encountered 2 unique situations that resulted in venous congestion of the flap requiring reoperative surgery for flap salvage or a second free flap. Several medical conditions can compromise free flap surgery and result in total flap loss. The senior author has also encountered 2 medical conditions resulting in total flap loss. However, both patients received successful second free tissue transfers when combined with unique perioperative management strategies. It is our hope that this review will highlight some unique management strategies for reoperative microsurgical free tissue transfer and serve as "lessons learned" for initial salvage procedures and a second free tissue transfer. We also hope our reoperative approach demonstrated in this review will help the future generation of microsurgeons to avoid such complications altogether so that overall outcome after microsurgical free flap surgery can further be improved.

Advancing the Specialty of Plastic Surgery While Helping and Supporting Other Surgical Services at an Academic Medical Center

ABSTRACT

While helping and supporting other surgical services at our academic medical center, we noticed that many clinical problems presented to our plastic surgery team are truly unique and challenging. Many of the necessary reconstructive procedures, performed by the senior author, had never been published in plastic surgery textbooks or the literature before. Because of the plastic surgeon's creative problem-solving ability, we use reconstructive treatment plans that also innovate and advance the field of plastic surgery. In this case series, we share our experience with creative solutions for the management of novel and challenging clinical problems faced by our plastic surgery service. The resultant and effective solutions for each challenging case have all been published in reputable plastic surgery journals by the senior author. Once published, our inventive reconstructive solutions can be harnessed by other plastic surgeons and trainees and new standardized techniques or solutions for these unique and challenging clinical problems can be established. Ultimately, plastic surgeons can evolve their specialty through helping and supporting other surgical services at an academic medical center by establishing innovative solutions for ever arising challenging clinical problems. Once again, the plastic surgery team in a tertiary hospital supports many surgical services so that more complex surgical procedures can be performed safely and complications from other surgical services can be managed successfully. Therefore, adequate support for a plastic surgery service, by the hospital or department, is critical in developing a strong plastic surgery program at an academic medical center.

Reconstructive Trends in Post-Ablation Patients with Esophagus and Hypopharynx Defect

The main challenge in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction is the restoration of swallow and speech functions. The aim of this paper is to review the reconstructive options and associated complications for patients with head and neck cancer. A literature review was performed for pharynoesophagus reconstruction after ablative surgery of head and neck cancer for studies published between January 1980 to July 2015 and listed in the PubMed database. Search queries were made using a combination of 'esophagus' and 'free flap', 'microsurgical', or 'free tissue transfer'. The search query resulted in 123 studies, of which 33 studies were full text publications that met inclusion criteria. Further review into the reference of these 33 studies resulted in 15 additional studies to be included. The pharyngoesophagus reconstruction should be individualized for each patient and clinical context. Fasciocutaneous free flap and pedicled flap are effective for partial phayngoesophageal defect. Fasciocutaneous free flap and jejunal free flap are effective for circumferential defect. Pedicled flaps remain a safe option in the context of high surgical risk patients, presence of fistula. Among free flaps, anterolateral thigh free flap and jejunal free flap were associated with superior outcomes, when compared with radial forearm free flap. Speech function is reported to be better for the fasciocutaneous free flap than for the jejunal free flap.

Right gastro-omental artery reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy for subtotal esophagectomy and gastric pull-up

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Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a difficult and challenging operation, and a gastric tube is frequently used for reconstruction after subtotal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

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The right gastro-omental artery is important for supplying blood flow to the gastric tube.

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Surgeries for pancreatic head tumors become incredibly difficult in patients who have undergone esophageal reconstruction with a gastric tube.

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We describe successful arterial reconstruction using the middle colic artery in a patient who had undergone esophageal reconstruction with a gastric tube and whose right gastro-omental artery had been resected.

Introduction

There are no reports on vessel reconstruction of right gastro-omental artery deficits due to pancreatic tumor resection. Here, we describe successful arterial reconstruction using the middle colic artery in a patient who had undergone esophageal reconstruction with a gastric tube and whose right gastro-omental artery had been resected.

Presentation of case

A 70-year-old man underwent subtotal esophagectomy and reconstructive surgery with a retrosternal gastric tube for esophageal cancer. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tumor on the pancreatic head that was adjacent to the right gastro-omental artery. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) was subsequently performed. The gastro-omental artery was resected along with the tumor, creating a 7-cm deficit. The anastomosis was performed between the right branch of the middle colic artery and the distal end of the right gastro-omental artery. No complications that involved blood flow to the reconstructed esophagus were postoperatively observed. Four months after surgery, the blood flow to the gastric tube was confirmed by a contrast CT scan.

Discussion

We reconstructed the right gastro-omental artery using the middle colic artery, and not a vein graft, as that would have required vessel anastomosis at two locations. The middle colic artery branches on the posterior surface of the pancreas, which is located close to the right gastro-omental artery.

Conclusion

The middle colic artery provides sufficient blood supply to the pulled-up gastric tube. PD can be performed even in patients who have undergone esophageal reconstruction.

Long-Term Survival After Local Resection of Cervical Esophageal Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus may be seen in patients with history of head and neck malignancies. Anatomic factors may limit management options. We present a case of second primary early cervical esophageal squamous cell cancer managed by local resection with reconstruction using a radial forearm flap.

Cervical partial oesophagectomy and trans-oral direct end-to-end anastomosis

Many surgical procedures are used to restore the defect of the alimentary tract after cervical oesophagectomy. We present a case of a 69-year old woman, affected by a G2 squamous cell carcinoma of retro-cricodeal hypopharynx extend to the cervical oesopaghus. She underwent a direct reconstruction with a direct trans-oral anastomosis by a mechanical device and without any interposition. No postoperative complication was observed and there was a good functional result at 24 months after surgery. In a few selected cases, this technique can be usefully performed, avoiding gastric or intestinal resection and improving the quality of life.