Changing patterns and surgical results in adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Prognosis of oesophageal adenocarcinoma is notoriously dismal. To examine the changing patterns of and treatment strategies for this disease, the longitudinal experience of a single institution over 16 years is reported.

METHODS

The study comprised a retrospective review of 551 consecutive patients operated on for oesophageal cancer between 1979 and 1995, of whom 164 had adenocarcinoma. There were 13 women and 151 men whose mean age was 61 (range 17-82) years.

RESULTS

The prevalence of adenocarcinoma (P = 0.002), that of early tumours (P < or = 0.10), and the resectability rate (P < or = 0.05) increased throughout the period whereas operative mortality rate decreased (P < or = 0.10). Surgical approach changed without influence on long-term survival. Patients referred from endoscopic surveillance programmes for Barrett's oesophagus (n = 16) had an improved survival rate compared with that of non-surveyed patients (P < or = 0.01). Overall 5-year survival after oesophagectomy (17 per cent) improved for the period 1991-1995 when compared with 1979-1982 (P < or = 0.02). Univariate analysis identified tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, number of diseased lymph nodes, invasion of the oesophageal stump and occurrence of a postoperative complication as significant prognostic variables (P < or = 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that T stage (P = 0.0002) was the main independent predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent improvement of results reflects patient selection, increased prevalence of early tumours, and dramatic reduction of the risks from oesophagectomy. New therapeutic directions should be investigated for locally advanced tumours.

Selective digestive decontamination in multiple trauma patients: cost and efficacy

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and the cost of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) to prevent nosocomial pneumonia in multiple-trauma patients. Nosocomial infections, particularly pneumonia, were more frequent in the placebo group. The most common infectious agent was Staphylococcus: Staphylococcus aureus in the placebo group and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the SDD group. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected more often in the SDD group. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was observed in this study. Fewer patients in the SDD group required antibiotherapy. SDD resulted in a saving of about 41% in drug expenditure.

Video-assisted minithoracotomy versus muscle-sparing thoracotomy for performing lobectomy

We prospectively analyzed the outcome of lobectomy in a cohort of 67 patients. Operative time, postoperative pain, pulmonary function, and early outcome were compared between the patients undergoing video-assisted techniques (n = 44) and those undergoing standard muscle-sparing procedures (n = 23). Pain was quantified daily throughout the first week using the visual analog scale. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the forced vital capacity were measured at days 2, 4, and 8 postoperatively. The operative time was significantly longer (p < 0.02) and the postoperative pain was significantly less (p < 0.006) in the group undergoing video-assisted procedures. Pain-related morbidity, the mean duration of air leaks, the duration of chest tube placement, and the hospital stay were all less in the video-assisted group, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. However, the impairment in pulmonary function and the overall morbidity were identical for the two groups. Based on our findings, we conclude that video-assisted minithoracotomy is a safe and reliable approach for performing lobectomies, and that the decreased postoperative pain associated with this minimally invasive approach does not result in preserved pulmonary function and significantly reduced morbidity when compared with a muscle-sparing thoracotomy.

Dilation of woven and knitted aortic prosthetic grafts: CT scan evaluation

Because there are few reports in the literature concerning short- and medium-term outcome of woven and knitted aortic prosthetic grafts, we conducted CT evaluations in 58 asymptomatic patients (53 males and five females with a mean age of 63.5 years) undergoing infrarenal aortic reconstruction between June 1988 and June 1991. Joined CT slices after contrast enhancement, centered on the proximal anastomoses, prosthetic bodies, and prosthetic limbs, were obtained in the early (mean 19 days) and late (mean 19 months, range 6 to 40 months) postoperative periods. In end-to-side aortoprosthetic anastomoses (n = 28), early and late CT examinations revealed that the anteroposterior diameter increased 1.9% (p = NS) and 8.8% (p < 0.0001) for woven and knitted grafts, respectively. In end-to-end aortoprosthetic anastomoses, the diameter of the prosthetic body on early CT scans increased 12.6% (p < 0.0001) and 28% (p < 0.0001) for woven and knitted prosthetic grafts, respectively, as compared with diameter values provided by the manufacturer. Dilation continued to progress 2.2% (p < 0.04) for woven and 6.2% (p < 0.0002) for knitted prosthetic grafts on late CT scans. The mean diameter of the prosthetic graft limbs (n = 96) increased 22.3% (p < 0.0001) and 34.6% (p < 0.0001) for woven and knitted prosthetic grafts, respectively, on early CT scans as compared with manufacturers' values. Secondary increases were 3.2% (p < 0.002) and 7.7% (p < 0.007) for woven and knitted prosthetic grafts, respectively. These data show that dilation of aortic prostheses occurs early in most cases, most likely soon after declamping of the graft, as shown by recent intraoperative measurements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prevalence of gastrocnemius vein insufficiency using color-coded Doppler ultrasound (modifications of the therapeutic strategy)]

The importance of morphologic and dynamic lesions of the gastrocnemius vein is underestimated. Color-coded Duplex scanning was performed in 483 patients with varicosities and 869 legs with some venous abnormalities were discovered. Two types of lesion on gastrocnemius veins were founded: incompetence and dilatation usually located on the medial gastrocnemius vein. In 29.34% of the limbs, a medial gastrocnemius vein incompetence was present and a dilatation in 15.42%. Medial gastrocnemius vein incompetence was associated with a mid calf gastrocnemius communicating vein incompetence in 25%. Physiopathological hypothesis could be drawn of our observations. Gastrocnemius veins when incompetent should be ligated flush to the popliteal vein. The high prevalence of gastrocnemius vein should be considered in the management of varicose veins and color-coded Duplex scanning routinely performed before surgery.

Treatment of thymomas. A report of 67 cases

From 1979 to 1989, 126 patients were treated for thymic tumors. Of these, 67 (53%) had thymomas occurring in 27 men and 40 women; the mean age was 46 years: 24 patients had no symptoms and myasthenia gravis was present in 21 cases. A complete resection was performed in 45 patients, associated in 22 with postoperative adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy, 2; radio- and chemotherapy, 20). Two patients had a partial resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Twenty patients had initially only a biopsy and were treated by irradiation in 3 cases, radio- plus chemotherapy in 16, radio- plus chemotherapy and subsequent resection in 1 case. The staging was carried out according to the GETT Classification (stage I A:26; I B:6; II:12; III A:1; III B:18; IVA:4). Thymomas were found to be of predominant epithelial type in 12 cases, predominantly lymphocytic type in 9, and mixed in 46. No recurrence occurred after complete resection. The overall 10-year survival was 71.1%. A good correlation was found according to staging: 96% in stage I; 80% in stage II; 35% in stage III. Presence of myasthenia gravis did not affect the results. The best prognostic factor remains complete resection with postoperative radiotherapy to prevent recurrences. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy needs further evaluation.