Early oral feeding following esophagectomy

Novel nutrition strategies in gastric and esophageal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Advances in treatment strategies for gastric and esophageal cancer have led to improved long-term outcomes, however the local and systemic effects of the primary tumor, neoadjuvant therapies and surgery, result in specific nutritional challenges. Comprehensive nutritional evaluation and support represents a core component of multidisciplinary holistic care for this patient population.

AREAS COVERED

We provide a detailed overview of nutritional challenges in gastric and esophageal cancer, with a focus on malignant obstruction, preoperative optimization and survivorship. We discuss current management strategies and evidence base, and describe future therapeutic targets.

EXPERT OPINION

Data to support the optimal management of malignant dysphagia and obstruction, particularly regarding patient reported outcomes, is currently lacking. The advantages of nutritional optimization in the pre- and immediate postoperative phase are well described, but further research is needed to inform optimal personalised strategies. Emerging data regarding the physiologic regulation of appetite and body weight have provided key insights and informed the development of novel therapeutic targets to improve nutritional status among patients undergoing treatment for oesophageal and gastric cancer.

Effects of Early Oral Feeding on Quality of Life Following Esophagectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of early oral feeding (EOF) following esophagectomy remains debated. This study evaluates whether postoperative EOF improves patients' quality of life.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed across eight databases to identify relevant studies. The effects of continuous variables were assessed using the mean difference (MD). The effects of dichotomous variables were assessed using the relative risk (RR).

RESULTS

Seven studies were included in the analysis. EOF significantly improved postoperative overall quality of life [MD = 9.64, 95% CI (6.11, 13.16), p < 0.001], dysphagia [MD = -7.37, 95% CI (-14.32, -0.42), p = 0.040], and eating difficulty [MD = -6.72, 95% CI (-10.62, -2.82), p < 0.001]. However, no significant differences were observed in postoperative reflux [MD = -5.90, 95% CI (-12.52, 0.73), p = 0.080], esophageal pain [MD = -1.86, 95% CI (-5.51, 1.78), p = 0.320], anastomotic leakage [RR = 0.70, 95% CI (0.37, 1.35), p = 0.290], and pulmonary infection [RR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.15, 1.35), p = 0.150].

CONCLUSION

EOF after esophagectomy appears to improve patients' quality of life; however, these findings are constrained by the limited number and quality of studies. Further research is needed to validate these results.

A Case Report on the Use of a Novel Technique for Intra-operative Nasojejunal Tube Placement in a Patient Undergoing Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is an important cornerstone in the management of esophageal cancer. Post-operative feeding options in Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy include nasojejunal tube (NJT), feeding jejunostomy, and direct oral feeding. NJT is traditionally placed endoscopically or under fluoroscopic guidance. In this case report we present an alternate technique for NJT placement. A 55-year-old male presented to our clinic with dysphagia. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a gastroesophageal junction (GOJ) tumor was noted. A diagnosis of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was made on biopsy. The patient received eight cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine (ECX), following which an Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy was carried out. This case report highlights the technical aspects and potential pitfalls of placing NJT in patients undergoing Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy without the use of endoscopy or fluoroscopic guidance. Direct oral feeding after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy may lead to suboptimal caloric provision while feeding jejunostomy is associated with complications such as dermatitis, wound infection, and intestinal obstruction. On the other hand, endoscopic or fluoroscopic insertion of NJT can expose the anastomosis to potentially harmful mechanical forces. NJT can be easily placed using our technique in patients undergoing hybrid Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. The safety of this technique can be investigated by further studies.

Gastro-Intestinal Disorders and Micronutrient Deficiencies following Oncologic Esophagectomy and Gastrectomy

Primary surgical indications for the esophagus and stomach mainly involve cancer surgeries. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of esogastric surgery, driven by advancements in surgical techniques and improvements in perioperative care. The rate of resectability has increased, and surgical strategies have evolved to encompass a broader patient population. However, despite a reduction in postoperative mortality and morbidity, malnutrition remains a significant challenge after surgery, leading to weight loss, muscle mass reduction, and deficiencies in essential nutrients due to digestive complications. Malnutrition worsens quality of life and increases the risk of tumor recurrence, significantly affecting prognosis. Nevertheless, the nutritional consequences following surgery are frequently overlooked, mainly due to a lack of awareness regarding their long-term effects on patients who have undergone digestive surgery, extending beyond six months. Micronutrient deficiencies are frequently observed following both partial and total gastrectomy, as anticipated. Surprisingly, these deficiencies appear to be similarly prevalent in patients who have undergone esophagectomy with iron, vitamins A, B1, B12, D, and E deficiencies commonly observed in up to 78.3% of the patients. Recognizing the distinct consequences associated with each type of intervention underscores the importance of implementing preventive measures, early detection, and prompt management.

Endoscopic management of anastomotic leak after esophageal or gastric resection for malignancy: a multicenter experience

BACKGROUND

Most anastomotic leaks after surgical resection for esophageal or esophagogastric junction malignancies are treated endoscopically with esophageal stents. Internal drainage by double pigtail stents has been used for the endoscopic management of leaks following bariatric surgery, and recently introduced for anastomotic leaks after resections for malignancies. Our aim was to assess the overall efficacy of the endoscopic treatment for anastomotic leaks after esophageal or gastric resection for malignancies.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study in four digestive endoscopy tertiary referral centers in France. We included consecutive patients managed endoscopically for anastomotic leak following esophagectomy or gastrectomy for malignancies between January 2016 and December 2018. The primary outcome was the efficacy of the endoscopic management on leak closure.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients were included, among which 46 men and 22 women, with a mean ± SD age of 61 ± 11 years. Forty-four percent had an Ivor Lewis procedure, 16% a tri-incisional esophagectomy, and 40% a total gastrectomy. The median time between surgery and the diagnosis of leak was 9 (6-13) days. Endoscopic treatment was successful in 90% of the patients. The efficacy of internal drainage and esophageal stents was 95% and 77%, respectively (p = 0.06). The mortality rate was 3%. The only predictive factor of successful endoscopic treatment was the initial use of internal drainage (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic management of early postoperative leak is successful in 90% of patients, preventing highly morbid surgical revisions. Internal endoscopic drainage should be considered as the first-line endoscopic treatment of anastomotic fistulas whenever technically feasible.

Safety analysis of early oral feeding after esophagectomy in patients complicated with diabetes

Objective

To evaluate the safety of early oral feeding in patients with type II diabetes after radical resection of esophageal carcinoma.

Methods

The clinical data of 121 patients with type II diabetes who underwent radical resection of esophageal carcinoma in the department of cardiothoracic surgery of Jinling Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the median time (7 days) of the first oral feeding after surgery, the patients were divided into early oral feeding group (EOF, feeding within 7 days after surgery, 67 cases) and late oral feeding group (LOF, feeding after 7 days, 54 cases). Postoperative blood glucose level, incidence of complications, nutritional and immune indexes, inflammatory indexes, normalized T12-SMA (the postoperative/preoperative ratio of vertical spinal muscle cross-sectional area at the 12th thoracic vertebra level) and QLQ-C30 (Quality Of Life Questionnaire) scores were recorded and compared in the two groups.

Results

There was no statistical difference in preoperative nutritional index and postoperative complication rates between the EOF and LOF group (p > 0.05). The postoperative nutritional index (ALB, PA, TRF, Hb) and immune index (IgA, IgG, IgM) of the EOF group were higher than those of the LOF group (p < 0.05), and the inflammatory indicators (CRP, IL-6) of the EOF group were significantly lower than those of the LOF group (p < 0.05). Moreover, postoperative T12-SMA variation and QLQ-C30 scores of the EOF group were higher than those in LOF group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Early oral feeding is safe and feasible for patients with type II diabetes after radical resection of esophageal cancer, and it can improve short-term nutritional status and postoperative life quality of the patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13019-021-01410-4.

Feeding jejunostomy in upper gastrointestinal resections: a UK-wide survey

INTRODUCTION

The usage of a feeding jejunostomy has been a well-established practice in maintaining nutrition in patients undergoing resections for upper gastrointestinal cancer. As surgical technique has evolved, together with the adoption of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways, the routine insertion of feeding jejunostomy tubes appears to be changing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey was constructed using Google Forms. The link was distributed to consultant upper gastrointestinal surgeons via the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons' membership database. Results were collated and analysed using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS

A total of 55 responses were received from 28 units across the UK; 27 respondents (49.1%) no longer routinely use feeding jejunostomy in upper gastrointestinal resections, oesophagectomy or gastrectomy. The most common primary feeding modality used by these respondents was oral diet 17 (65.4%), with total parenteral nutrition (19.2%) and nasojejunal (11.5%) routes also being used. Respondents who used feeding jejunostomies inserted them primarily for oesophagectomy (n = 27; 96.4%), with fewer surgeons using them in extended total gastrectomy (n = 12; 42.9%) and total gastrectomy (n = 11; 39.3%). Of the total, 20 surgeons (71.4%) would insert the jejunostomy using an open approach, with 19 (67.9%) employing a Witzel tunnel. Eleven respondents (39.3%) would continue feeding via the jejunostomy after discharge. Some 24 responders thought that feeding jejunostomies did not facilitate the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway (strongly and slightly disagree), whereas 17 considered that they did (strongly and slightly agree); 13 responders did not have strong views either way.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a split in current practice regarding the usage of feeding jejunostomies. There is also a division of opinion on the role of feeding jejunostomy in enhanced recovery after surgery.

The effect of early oral feeding after esophagectomy on the incidence of anastomotic leakage: an updated review

OBJECTIVE

Early oral feeding (EOF) is considered to be an important component of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), but raises the concern of increased risk of anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients receiving esophagectomy. This review aimed to elucidate the correlation of EOF and the incidence of AL after esophageal resection.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar from their inception to February 2020 for published articles that compared AL after EOF (oral feeding initiated within postoperative day [POD] 3) vs. conventional feeding regimen (nil-by-mouth with enteral tube nutrition support, until oral feeding since POD 4 and beyond) following esophagectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 11 full articles were included in this review, including 5 registered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 6 observational studies that compared EOF with conventional care after esophagectomy. Meta-analysis was not possible due to significant heterogeneity, bias, and small sample sizes. Among the 11 included studies, 9 (including the 5 RCTs) showed that EOF did not increase AL rate, whereas the other 2 retrospective studies indicated that delayed oral feeding resulted in fewer AL.

CONCLUSIONS

EOF after esophagectomy probably does not increase the incidence of AL, and it is a promising strategy in line with the essence of ERAS. However, more and better evidence from high-quality RCTs are still needed.