Successful surgical treatment for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia of a wide area of the intestine accompanied by gastric conduit necrosis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a case report and review of the literature

Successful treatment of nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia in a reconstructed jejunum after esophagectomy and remnant gastric tube resection: a case report

BACKGROUND

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI), an ischemic bowel disease without a disruption of the mesenteric blood flow or strangulation of the mesentery or intestine, may cause a lethal clinical course. We report a very rare case of jejunal necrosis caused by NOMI in the pedicled mesentery of the reconstructed jejunum after remnant gastric tube resection for heterochronous gastric tube cancer after esophagectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 80-year-old man visited our department with chief complaints of fever and appetite loss after 4 months from gastric tube resection and digestive reconstruction with pedicled jejunum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed impaired blood flow without torsion of the mesentery, severe wall thickness, and micro-penetration in the reconstructed jejunum and combined pyothorax in the right thoracic cavity. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated extensive mucosal necrosis confined to the jejunum, which was elevated in the thoracic cavity. The jejunal necrosis due to NOMI occurring in the reconstructed jejunum was suspected, and lifesaving small bowel resection with right thoracotomy was considered necessary. However, radical operation with right thoracotomy was considered to be excessively invasive and not valid due to the patient's poor physical status, advanced age, and presence of left adrenal metastasis from the remnant gastric cancer. Therefore, we selected the conservative treatment with fasting, transnasal drainage, and administration of antibiotics due to the patient's intention. CT-guided right thoracic drainage for the intrathoracic abscess was needed 10 days after starting treatment and the inflammatory response rapidly improved. Follow-up CT and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed the improvement in the ischemic changes in jejunal mucosa without perforation. Intake was initiated at 20 days after symptom onset, and the patient was discharged at 40 hospital days without any complications and sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of NOMI occurring in the reconstructed jejunum after remnant gastric tube resection that was successfully treated with a conservative treatment. For NOMI, it is important to make appropriate diagnosis based on imaging findings and perform proper assessment of the patient's condition. Conservative treatments may be also useful depending on the patient's condition.

Small bowel necrosis after esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to fully understand small bowel necrosis, a rare but fatal complication after esophagectomy.

METHODS

Patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical information on the demographics, presenting features, and outcomes of the cases were collected.

RESULTS

Of the 6607 patients during the study period, 11 (0.2%) underwent reoperation due to bowel necrosis, including nine males (81.8%) and two females (18.2%). Among them, eight cases (72.7%) had hypertension and seven (63.6%) suffered from lower thoracic esophageal cancer. Eight (72.7%) and three (27.3%) patients underwent the Ivor-Lewis and McKewon procedures, respectively. Jejunostomy was performed in nine patients (81.8%). The first signs of bowel necrosis appeared within 5 days after esophagectomy. Abdominal distension and deteriorating renal function were observed in seven patients (63.6%). There was no evidence of mesenteric vascular occlusion in any of the 11 cases, except for the hepatic portal venous gas found in seven patients on the computed tomography (CT) scan. Eight (72.7%) of the 11 patients underwent reoperation within 24 h due to the onset of the first symptoms. Eight (72.7%) had ileal necrosis, and three (27.3%) died.

CONCLUSION

Close attention should be paid to patients with abdominal distension, renal function damage, and portal hepatic venous gas after esophagectomy. These patients may suffer from small bowel necrosis, which may result in rapid disease progression. Exploratory laparotomy and bowel resection are effective treatments for such patients.

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia in reconstructive digestive tract surgery

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the mechanisms of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) after digestive tract surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

NOMI occurred in 10 (0.4%) patients after reconstructive digestive tract surgery between 2015 and 2021. There were 4 women and 6 men aged 29-92 years (67 [60; 71]). Patients differed from each other in the nature of baseline disease and surgical approach. All patients underwent standardized surgical interventions. There were no intraoperative complications.

RESULTS

Median of surgery time was 372.5 (246.25; 548.75) min, blood loss - 450 (200; 725) ml. These parameters conformed to the type of surgery. There were no specific clinical signs of NOMI. Lactic acidosis (>4 mmol/L) occurred in 7 patients after 1-3 postoperative days. In 6 patients, fulminant NOMI developed after 1-2 postoperative days with subsequent multiple organ failure syndrome and septic shock. All patients underwent emergency redo surgery. Multivisceral gastrointestinal necrosis occurred in 5 patients, gastric conduit necrosis - 3, colon necrosis - 1, gastric stump necrosis - 1 patient. Mortality rate was 80%. Two patients survived.

CONCLUSION

NOMI manifested as a septic shock in 60% of patients that was due to fulminant development of multivisceral necrosis after 1-2 postoperative days. Timely diagnosis of reversible NOMI in these cases was impossible. Extensive visceral necrosis in early postoperative period is probably associated with intraoperative critical ischemia of digestive organs.

Mild nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia associated with syncope

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a life-threatening disease caused by a reduction in mesenteric blood supply without vascular occlusion. Early diagnosis of NOMI is often difficult because there are no specific findings suggesting NOMI. Here, we report a rare case of a very elderly patient with mild NOMI caused by dehydration due to short-term reduced oral intake and associated with syncope. A 90-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with syncope and melena. The syncope was thought to be caused by orthostatic hypotension due to dehydration owing to reduced oral intake for approximately 24 h. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed marked bowel wall thickening with mesenteric stranding in the ileum and ascending colon, dilated small intestine with thinned bowel wall, collapsed superior mesenteric vein, hemorrhagic ascites, and absence of obvious vascular occlusion in the mesenteric vessels. Abdominal symptoms, laboratory abnormalities, and CT findings improved gradually with the correction of dehydration. Therefore, we diagnosed our patient with mild NOMI. NOMI can be associated with syncope and can occur even with dehydration due to short-term reduced oral intake. When examining elderly patients with hypovolemic signs, such as syncope, who exhibit abdominal symptoms, clinicians must keep in mind the possibility of NOMI.

Gastric Ischemia Secondary to Abdominal Distension

Gastric ischemia has been reported in the literature mainly as case reports and case series. It is uncommon because of its excellent blood supply. Patients with atherosclerosis and vascular insufficiency are at risk for gastric ischemia, especially with gastric distension. Workup may reveal radiographic findings that denote ischemia and would prompt surgical intervention. However, these patients with vascular insufficiency tend to be poor surgical candidates, which can present a dilemma. The authors report two cases where non-operative management for gastric ischemia was successfully accomplished.