Objective To analyse postoperative complications and cause of death for carcinoma of esophagus. Methods A retrospective study was undertaken for data of 2 085 patients with esophageal carcinoma from 1963 to 2003, the patients were divided into group A (332 cases,1963-1983), group B(727 cases,1984-1993) and group C (1 026 cases,1994-2003) by time. The postoperative complications and cause of death were analysed. Results Resectability rate, incidence rate of postoperative complications and hospital mortality were 90.84%(1 894/2 085), 11.61% (242/2 085) and 1.82% (38/2 085) respectively. Main complications were pulmonary complications (3.93%,82/2 085),anastomotic leak (3.12%,59/1 894), and cardiovascular disease (1.29%,27/2 085). Resectability rate of group B and group C were higher than that of group A, incidence rate of postoperative complications and hospital mortality of group B and group C were lower than that of group A. Resectability rate of group C were higher than that of group B, incidence rate of postoperative complications except pulmonary complications and hospital mortality of group C were lower than those of group B. Conclusions Pulmonary complications and anastomotic leak are main postoperative complications and cause of hospital death for carcinoma of esophagus, they are decreasing in recent years because of the progress of anesthetic,surgical technique and perioperative management.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical value of colon leakage score (CLS), a preoperative predictive scoring system, for risk of anastomotic leakage after left-sided colorectal cancer surgery. MethodsThe clinical data of 310 patients who underwent left-sided colorectal cancer surgery from January 2010 to December 2014 were studied retrospectively. Risk factors for postoperative anastomotic leakage were analyzed by univariate analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of CLS system were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Resultsa total of 14 patients were diagnosed as anastomotic leakage. The point of CLS for the patients with anastomotic leakage was significantly higher than that for the patients without anastomotic leakage (14.21±5.76 versus 4.43±3.36, t=9.474, P=0.000). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the CLS system were 92.9% and 88.6%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.957 (95% CI 0.924-0.991). The best cut off value of CLS was 10 (The Youden index was 0.867). The results of univariate analysis showed that the age, preoperative hemoglobin level, status of intestinal obstruction, and blood loss were associated with postoperative anastomotic leakage (P<0.05). ConclusionThe preoperative predictive score system CLS could accurately predict occurrence of anastomotic leakage. While large, multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial is still needed to further confirm it.
ObjectiveTo explore the superiority of pleural tenting in Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy. MethodsWe prospectively included 200 esophagus cancer patients with Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy in our hospital between 2013 and 2015 year. The patients were allocated into two groups including a trial group and a control group with 100 patients in each group. There were 72 males and 28 females at an average age of 54.76±6.62 years in the trial group and 66 males and 34 females at an average age of 55.72±6.38 years in the control group. In the trial group pleural tenting was used to cover the anastomotic stoma and gastric tube, while in the control group pleural tenting was not used. Postoperative complications after one year, pressure on the level of the anastomotic stoma, and the grade of quality of life were compared between the two groups. ResultNo statistically significant differences were found in preoperative epidemiological and postoperative pathological characteristics, as well as the postoperative complications and the one-year survival rate (P > 0.05). Quality of life was better in the trial group than that of the control group. ConclusionPleural tenting is a simple, safe, and effective technique for improving quality of life of the patients.
Objective To evaluate the role of curved-cutter-stapler in anus-preserving for low rectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 32 patients with low rectal cancer from June 2007 to December 2008 who received low anterior resection and ultra low anterior resection by using curved-cutter-stapler were reviewed retrospectively. Results No operation death case, complete cutting and safe closure in all cases, one case was complicated with anastomotic leakage, and one case of rectovaginal fistula. Thirty patients were followed up 4 to 22 months after the operation, with an average time of 12.6 months, no hemorrhea of pelvic cavity and anastomotic stoma or anastomotic stenosis cases. Conclusion Curved-cutter-stapler has the advantages of complete cutting, safe closure and low complications, and easy being used in anus-preserving operation for low rectal cancer, which can increase the rate of anus-preserving.
Objective To investigate the measures to prevent the anastomotic leakage following anterior resection of rectum. Methods A series of seventy-four patients with rectal cancer undergoing anterior resection from January 1991 to October 1998 were analyzed.Results The clinical anastomotic leakage rate was 4.05 per cent (3/74). The causes of leakage were presacral infection and insufficiency of blood supply in incisional margin. Conclusion The proximal colon must be completely mobilized and blood supply of incisional margin should be sufficient. Persistent postoperative presacral suction must be performed to protect fluid accumulation resulting in infection. Intracolonic drainage is an important factor in prevention of anastomotic leakage. Temporary stoma is not necessary.
The risk factors of esophagogastric anastomotic leak in the perioperative period include malnutrition, smoking, steroid use, bowel preparation, chemotherapy, duration of surgery, vasopressor drugs use, intravenous fluid administration, blood transfusion and surgical anastomotic technique, which can be reduced with the improvement of surgeons' ability to identify the high-risk patients. This article summarizes the specific measures for these risk factors: preoperative nutritional support for 5–7 d for malnourished patients, full intestinal preparation, perioperative smoking cessation, limitation of steroids and vasopressors drug applications, avoidance of early operations (<4 weeks) following chemotherapy, and the goal-directed fluid management.
ObjectiveTo compare the complication morbidity of mechanical and hand-sewn esophagogastric anastomosis systemically. MethodsMedline (January 1960 to June 2015), EMbase (January 1980 to June 2015), Cochrane Library (January 1996 to June 2015), Web of Science (January 1980 to June 2015) and other databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about comparing the complication morbidity of hand-sewn and mechanical anastomosis. Moreover, the references were searched by search engines such as Google Scholar. Papers were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. And then the data were extracted. The quality of current meta-analysis was assessed by GRADE profiler 3.6 software. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of 1 611 patients in 14 RCTs were reviewed. The results suggested that the anastomatic leakage rate of mechanical method showed no significant difference from that of hand-sewn method[RR=1.07, 95%CI (0.76, 1.51), P=0.699]. While the anastomatic stenosis rate was even higher[RR=1.59, 95%CI (1.21, 2.09), P=0.001]. ConclusionMechanical method can't reduce the anastomotic leakage rate following esophagogastrostomy, while it maybe increase the risk of anastomotic stenosis on the contrary. The patients' physical condition should be considered when surgeons make the choice.
ObjectiveTo analyze the common reasons of anastomotic leakage following sphincter preservation for rectal cancer, and to explore the better prevention and treatment strategies. MethodThe related literatures of the definition, common causes, and prevention and treatment status of anastomotic leakage were reviewed. ResultsCurrently rectal cancer was one of common malignant tumors, including about 2/3 low rectal cancer.Recently, sphincter preserving surgery had become the preferred surgical procedure.However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage keeping in higher was still the most serious and common complications.Through improving the general condition of the patients, improving surgical techniques, and standardized treatment could effectively reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage. ConclusionReasonable preoperative assessment for the basic situation of patients with rectal cancer, standardized and individualized treatments, contribute to reduce incidence of anastomotic leakage and improve clinical outcomes in patients with low rectal cancer.
Objective To investigate the application of air leak test combined with methylene blue solution leak test in the detection of anastomotic leakage after total mesorectal excision （TME） in rectal cancer. Methods In total of132 patients with rectal cancer underwent Dixon according to TME in our hospital from Mar. 2010 to Mar. 2013 were enrolled. All patients were randomly divided into air leak test group （n=65） and air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group （n=67）. The intestinal anastomosis of patients in air leak test group were clamped at 2 cm from the upper endof bowel， then injecting 500 mL distilled water to pelvic， and placing 24# Foley catheter through the anus. The catheter balloon was injected with water to close anus， and then injected with 50 mL gas to find the anastomotic leakage where bubbles happened， and then repaired it. Patients of air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group were treated with methylene blue solution test in addition. After sucking out of the distilled water in pelvic and gas in the rectum， 1 bottle of methylene blue solution （20 mg） and 50 mL saline were injected， observing the location where the methylene blue solutionleaking out and repaired it. Results Three cases （4.62%） of anastomotic leakage were found during operation in air leak test group， and 9 cases （13.85%） were found after operation. Of the 9 cases， 5 cases were cured with placement of adeq-uate drainage and symptomatic treatment， 3 cases were cured with anal patch， and 1 case was cured with transverse colon fistula and drainage. In total of 15 cases （22.39%） were found anastomotic leakage， 2 cases of them were found by air leak test and another 13 cases were found by methylene blue solution leak test during operation in air leak＋methylene bluesolution leak test group， but no one suffered anastomotic leakage after operation. Compared with air test group， detectionrate of anastomotic leakage during operation was higher （P＜0.05）， and incidence rate of anastomotic leakage after opera-tion was lower in air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group （P＜0.05）. Conclusions Large anastomotic leakage can be found by using air leak test， and small and hidden leakage can be found by using methylene blue solution leak test， combination method of the two experiments is better. Repair can be performed effectively under direct vision.
Objective To evaluate preventive effectiveness of pocket esophagogastric anastomosis for postoperativeanastomotic leak，stricture and gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD），and investigate clinical significance of Montreal definition and classification of GERD after esophageal reconstruction. Methods Clinical data of 1 078 patients whoreceived 2 different surgical procedures for resection of esophageal or cardiac carcinoma from June 2007 to June 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. In the experimental group，there were 582 patients who received pocketesophagogastric anastomosis，including 403 male and 179 female patients with their age of 60.4±12.6 years. There were 399 patients with esophageal carcinoma and 183 patients with cardiac carcinoma，392 patients receiving esophagogastrostomyabove the aortic arch and 190 patients receiving esophagogastrostomy below the aortic arch respectively. In the control group，there were 496 patients who received conventional end-to-side esophagogastric anastomosis，including 343 male and 153 female patients with their age of 59.2±12.8 years. There were 322 patients with esophageal carcinoma and 174 patients with cardiac carcinoma，317 patients receiving esophagogastrostomy above the aortic arch and 179 patients receivingesophagogastrostomy below the aortic arch respectively. A survey questionnaire was made on the basis of relevant diagnosticstandards to investigate the incidence of postoperative anastomotic stricture and GERD of the 2 groups during follow-up.Results The incidence of postoperative anastomotic leak of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group ［0% （0/582）versus 1.0% （5/496），χ2=5.835，P=0.016］. Patients in the experimental group had less severeGERD symptoms，and the percentage of patients who needed antacid therapy for extraesophageal symptoms of GERD ofthe experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group ［1.6% （33/541） versus 12.6% （57/453），χ2=23.564，P=0.000］. The incidence of anastomotic stricture of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of thecontrol group ［0.9% （5/539） versus 7.3% （34/465），χ2=25.124，P=0.000］，and especially，the incidence of severe anastomoticstricture of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group ［0% （0/539） versus 4.7% （22/465），χ2=24.883，P=0.000］. There was no statistical difference in five-year survival rate. Conclusion Pocket esophagogastric anastomosis is better than conventional end-to-side esophagogastric anastomosis for the prevention of postoperative anastomoticleak，stricture and GERD. Montreal definition and classification of GERD is suitable for the diagnosis of postoperativeGERD after esophageal reconstruction.