A French National Study on Gastropleural and Gastrobronchial Fistulas After Bariatric Surgery: the Impact of Therapeutic Strategy on Healing.

PURPOSE: Gastropleural and gastrobronchial fistulas (GPF/GBFs) are serious but rare complications after bariatric surgery whose management is not consensual. The aim was to establish a cohort and evaluate different clinical presentations and therapeutic options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter and retrospective study analyzing GPF/GBFs after bariatric surgery in France between 2007 and 2018, via a questionnaire sent to digestive and thoracic surgery departments. RESULTS: The study included 24 patients from 9 surgical departments after initial bariatric surgery (21 sleeve gastrectomies; 3 gastric bypass) for morbid obesity (mean BMI = 42 ± 8 kg/m2). The GPF/GBFs occurred, on average, 124 days after bariatric surgery, complicating an initial post-operative gastric fistula (POGF) in 66% of cases. Endoscopic digestive treatment was performed in 79% of cases (n = 19) associated in 25% of cases (n = 6) with thoracic endoscopy. Surgical treatment was performed in 83% of cases (n = 20): thoracic surgery (n = 5), digestive surgery (n = 8), and combined surgery (n = 7). No patient died. Overall morbidity was 42%. The overall success rate of the initial and secondary strategies was 58.5% and 90%, respectively. The average healing time was approximately 7 months. Patients who had undergone thoracic surgery (n = 12) had more initial management failures (n = 9/12) than patients who had not (n = 3/12), p = 0.001. CONCLUSION: Complex and life-threatening fistulas that are revealed late require a multidisciplinary strategy. Thoracic surgery should be reserved once the abdominal leak heals; otherwise, it is associated with a higher risk of failure.

[Postoperative complications after major lung resection]. / Complications postopératoires des exérèses pulmonaires.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of the minimally invasive techniques has allowed an expansion of the indications for thoracic surgery, particularly in older patients and those with more comorbidities. However, the rate of postoperative complications has remained stable. STATE OF THE ART: Postoperative complications are defined as any variation from the normal course. They occur in 30% but majority of them are minor. The 30-day mortality rate for lung resection varies range between 2 % and 3% in the literature. Complications can be classified as: (1) early (occurring in the first 24hours) including both "generic" surgical complications (especially postoperative bleeding) and complications more specific to lung surgery (Acute respiratory syndrome, atelectasis); (2) in-hospital complications and those occurring during the first 3 months; these are dominated by infectious events in particular pneumonia but also bronchial (bronchopleural fistula), pleural (pneumothorax, hydrothorax) or cardiac complications; (3) late complications are dominated by chronic pain, affecting 60% of patients having a thoracotomy at three months. Lobectomy is the most common lung resection. Pneumonectomy is a distinct procedure requiring a specific peri- and postoperative management. Right pneumonectomy is associated with a higher risk with a treatment related-mortality ranging between 7 and 10%. CONCLUSION: Major lung resection has benefited from minimally invasive approaches and fast track to surgery. However, it is important to note the occurrence of new and specific complications related to those news surgical access.

Surgical management of esophageal sarcoma: a multicenter European experience.

Esophageal sarcomas are rare and evidence in literature is scarce making their management difficult. The objective is to report surgical and oncological outcomes of esophageal sarcoma in a large multicenter European cohort. This is a retrospective multicenter study including all patients who underwent en-bloc esophagectomy for esophageal sarcoma in seven European tertiary referral centers between 1987 and 2016. The main outcomes and measures are pathological results, early and long-term outcomes. Among 10,936 esophageal resections for cancer, 21 (0.2%) patients with esophageal sarcoma were identified. The majority of tumors was located in the middle (n = 7) and distal (n = 9) third of the esophagus. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was performed in five patients. All the patients underwent en-bloc transthoracic esophagectomy (19 open, 2 minimally invasive). Postoperative mortality occurred in 1 patient (5%). One patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Definitive pathological results were carcinosarcoma (n = 7), leiomyosarcoma (n = 5), and other types of sarcoma (n = 9). Microscopic R1 resection was present in one patient (5%) and seven patients (33%) had positive lymph nodes. Median follow-up was 16 (3-79) months in 20 of 21 patients (95%). One-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 74%, 43%, and 35%, respectively. One-, 3- and 5-years disease-free survival rates were 58%, 40%, and 33%, respectively. Median overall survival was 6 months in N+ patients vs. 37 months for N0 patients (p = 0.06). At the end of the follow-up period, nine patients had died from cancer recurrences (43%), three patients died from other reasons (14%), one patient was still alive with recurrence (5%) and the seven remaining patients were free of disease (33%). Recurrence was local (n = 3), metastatic (n = 3), or both (n = 4). In conclusion, carcinosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma were the most common esophageal sarcoma histological subtypes. Lymph node involvement was seen in one third of cases. A transthoracic en-bloc esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy should be the best surgical option to achieve complete resection. Long-term survival remained poor with a high local and distant recurrence rate.

External validation of a risk score in the prediction of the mortality after esophagectomy for cancer.

This study was designed as an external evaluation of the Steyerberg score in the prediction of different categories of postoperative mortality after esophagectomy on a large nationwide database of thoracic surgeons. Data collection was obtained from the Epithor national database encompassing the majority of thoracic procedures performed in France. We retrospectively compared the predicted to the observed postoperative 30-day (30DM), 90-day (90DM) and in-hospital mortality (IHM) rate in each decile of equal patient. Patients included in the study were operated for an esophageal cancer and Gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Steyerberg score was determined according to its logarithmic formula obtained from a sum score including age, comorbidities, neoadjuvant treatment and hospital volume. Deviation of observed from theoretically expected number of deaths was investigated using the calibration test of Hosmer-Lemeshow. Discrimination of the score was determined using the measure of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of each category of mortality. Over a 9-year period, 1039 consecutive patients underwent an esophagectomy over 42 centers. Among them, 18 centers were considered as intermediate or high-volume institutions, and 24 were low-volume institutions. There were 841 males (81%) with a mean age of 62.3 ± 10 years. Preoperative treatment was allocated to 420 patients (40%). Numbers of comorbidity was: 1 in 261 patients (25%), 2 in 264 patients (25%), 3 in 383 patients (36%) and 4 in 5 patients (1%). The 30DM, 90DM and IHM rate were, respectively, 5.6%, 9.2% and 9.6%. The main causes of postoperative deaths were related to pulmonary complications (44%), complications of the gastric interposition (28%), cardiologic and thromboembolism events (10%). For 30DM, there were significant differences between predicted/observed mortalities in four deciles, whereas there was no significant difference for 90DM and for IHM. In term of calibration, there was a fair agreement of the Steyerberg score with observed 30DM. Predictions were above 20% for seven deciles. Calibration seemed more adequate for 90DM and for IHM. Predictions were above 20% for only three deciles but deviations were not significant. In terms of discrimination, for the 30DM the Steyerberg score overpredicted, the observed mortality rate and AUC was 0.64 (CI 95%: 0.57-0.71). For the 90DM, AUC indicated 0.63 (CI 95%: 0.57-0.68). For the IHM, AUC indicated 0.63 (CI 95%: 0.58-0.68). Steyerberg scoring system seems to be a moderate risk score of the prediction of the IHM and 90DM. This score appears to have a fair discrimination for the 30DM. Nevertheless, because of its simplicity, we believe that this simple predictive score is relevant and transportable to others institution performing such surgery for benchmarking purposes. A reappraisal of the score adapted to current surgical cohort is required.

Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration: pathologic staging data.

We report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for patients with pathologically staged cancer of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction after resection or ablation with no preoperative therapy from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted de-identified data using standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 13,300 patients, 5,631 had squamous cell carcinoma, 7,558 adenocarcinoma, 85 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 26 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (51%), little weight loss (1.8 kg), 0-2 ECOG performance status (83%), and a history of smoking (70%). Cancers were pT1 (24%), pT2 (15%), pT3 (50%), pN0 (52%), pM0 (93%), and pG2-G3 (78%); most involved distal esophagus (71%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was monotonic and distinctive across pTNM. Survival was more distinctive for adenocarcinoma than squamous cell carcinoma when pT was ordered by pN. Survival for pTis-1 adenocarcinoma was better than for squamous cell carcinoma, although monotonic and distinctive for both. WECC pathologic staging data is improved over that of the 7th edition, with more patients studied and patient and cancer variables collected. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient, cancer, and treatment characteristics, and should direct 9th edition data collection. However, the role of pure pathologic staging as the principal point of reference for esophageal cancer staging is waning.

Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration: clinical staging data.

To address uncertainty of whether clinical stage groupings (cTNM) for esophageal cancer share prognostic implications with pathologic groupings after esophagectomy alone (pTNM), we report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for clinically staged patients from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted data using variables with standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 22,123 clinically staged patients, 8,156 had squamous cell carcinoma, 13,814 adenocarcinoma, 116 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 37 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (18.5-25 mg/kg2 , 47%), little weight loss (2.4 ± 7.8 kg), 0-1 ECOG performance status (67%), and history of smoking (67%). Cancers were cT1 (12%), cT2 (22%), cT3 (56%), cN0 (44%), cM0 (95%), and cG2-G3 (89%); most involved the distal esophagus (73%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for squamous cell carcinoma was not distinctive for early cT or cN; for adenocarcinoma, it was distinctive for early versus advanced cT and for cN0 versus cN+. Patients with early cancers had worse survival and those with advanced cancers better survival than expected from equivalent pathologic categories based on prior WECC pathologic data. Thus, clinical and pathologic categories do not share prognostic implications. This makes clinically based treatment decisions difficult and pre-treatment prognostication inaccurate. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient characteristics, cancer categories, and treatment characteristics and should direct 9th edition data collection.

Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration: neoadjuvant pathologic staging data.

To address uncertainty of whether pathologic stage groupings after neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM) for esophageal cancer share prognostic implications with pathologic groupings after esophagectomy alone (pTNM), we report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for pathologically staged cancers after neoadjuvant therapy from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted data using variables with standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 7,773 pathologically staged neoadjuvant patients, 2,045 had squamous cell carcinoma, 5,686 adenocarcinoma, 31 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 11 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (61 years) men (83%) with normal (40%) or overweight (35%) body mass index, 0-1 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (96%), and a history of smoking (69%). Cancers were ypT0 (20%), ypT1 (13%), ypT2 (18%), ypT3 (44%), ypN0 (55%), ypM0 (94%), and G2-G3 (72%); most involved the distal esophagus (80%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for yp categories was unequally depressed, more for earlier categories than later, compared with equivalent categories from prior WECC data for esophagectomy-alone patients. Thus, survival of patients with ypT0-2N0M0 cancers was intermediate and similar regardless of ypT; survival for ypN+ cancers was poor. Because prognoses for ypTNM and pTNM categories are dissimilar, prognostication should be based on separate ypTNM categories and groupings. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient, cancer, and treatment characteristics and should direct 9th edition data collection.

Efficacy of the endoscopic management of postoperative fistulas of leakages after esophageal surgery for cancer: a retrospective series.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Anastomotic leakages are severe and often lethal adverse events of surgery for esophageal cancer. The endoscopic treatment is growing up in such indications. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and describe the strategy of the endoscopic management of anastomotic leakages/fistulas after esophageal oncologic surgery. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study on 126 patients operated for esophageal carcinomas between 2010 and 2014. Thirty-five patients with postoperative fistulas/leakages (27 %) were endoscopically managed and included. The primary endpoint was the efficacy of the endoscopic treatment. The secondary endpoints were: delays between surgery, diagnosis, endoscopy and recovery; number of procedures; material used; and adverse events rate. Uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out to determine predictive factors of success. RESULTS: There were mostly men, with a median age of 61.7 years ± 8.9 [43-85]. 48.6 % underwent Lewis-Santy surgery and 45.7 % Akiyama's. 71.4 % patients received neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy. The primary and secondary efficacy was 48.6 and 68.6 %, respectively. The delay between surgery and endoscopy was 8.5 days [6.00-18.25]. Eighty-eight percentages of the patients were treated using double-type metallic stents, with removability and migration rates of 100 and 18 %, respectively. In the other cases, we used over-the-scope clips, naso-cystic drain or combined approach. The mean number of endoscopy was 2.6 ± 1.57 [1-10]. The mortality rate was 17 %, none being related to procedures. No predictive factor of efficacy could be identified. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic management of leakages or fistulas after esophageal surgery reached an efficacy rate of 68.8 %, mostly using stents, without significant adverse events. The mortality rate could be decreased from 40-100 to 17 %.

Patterns of recurrence in early-stage oesophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy and surgery compared with surgery alone.

BACKGROUND: Patterns of disease recurrence in patients with oesophageal cancer following treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery (nCRTS) or surgery alone are poorly reported. An understanding of patterns of disease recurrence is important for subsequent treatment planning. METHODS: An analysis was undertaken of patterns of disease recurrence from a phase III multicentre randomized trial (FFCD9901) comparing nCRTS with surgery alone in patients with stage I and II oesophageal cancer. RESULTS: Some 170 patients undergoing surgical resection were included in the study. R0 resection rates were similar in the two groups: 94 per cent following nCRTS versus 92 per cent after surgery alone (P = 0·749). After a median follow-up of 94·2 months, recurrent disease was found in 39·4 per cent of the overall cohort (31 per cent after nCRTS versus 47 per cent following surgery alone; P = 0·030). Locoregional recurrence was diagnosed in 41 patients (17 versus 30 per cent respectively; P = 0·047) and distant metastatic recurrence in 47 (23 versus 31 per cent respectively; P = 0·244). Metastatic recurrence was more frequent in patients with adenocarcinoma than in those with squamous cell cancer (40 versus 23·1 per cent respectively; P = 0·032). ypT0 N0 category was associated with prolonged time to mixed locoregional and metastatic recurrence (P = 0·009), and time to locoregional (P = 0·044) and metastatic (P = 0·055) recurrence. In multivariable analysis, node-positive disease predicted both locoregional (P = 0·001) and metastatic (P < 0·001) recurrence. CONCLUSION: Locoregional disease control following nCRTS indicated a local field effect not related solely to completeness of resection. pN+ disease was strongly predictive of time to locoregional and metastatic disease recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction in patients older than 70 years: results of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by transthoracic esophagectomy.

AIM: The standard treatment of locally-advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma consists of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgical resection. Very little data are available concerning the feasibility of this strategy in patients older than 70 years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2008, 118 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia (Siewert I and II). These were divided into three groups for comparison: Group I (age less than 70 years, neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery; n=66); Group II (age greater or equal to 70 years, surgery alone; n=32); Group III (age greater or equal to 70 years, neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery; n=20). Data concerning comorbidities, type of intervention, morbidity, mortality, survival and quality of life were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference among the three groups with regard to comorbidity and preoperative evaluation. The patients in Groups I and III had more locally-advanced tumors (P<0.001). There was some disparity between the types of surgery proposed. The Lewis-Santy esophagectomy was most commonly used (90%, 50%, and 65% respectively). The 90-day mortality was 8%, 15%, and 15% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary, cardiac, or digestive complications among the three groups. No difference was found in 5-year survival and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for elderly patients (age above 70 years) with esophageal adenocarcinoma did not seem to increase postoperative morbidity or mortality, nor was there any difference in quality of life, nor any effect on survival, no matter what the age of the patient.

[Non-tumoral vascular disorders of the lung in the adulthood]. / Pathologie vasculaire pulmonaire non tumorale de l'adulte.

Non-tumoral vascular disorders of the lung are multiple, even if cases diagnosed in the adulthood are rare. They include congenital or acquired conditions, which related symptoms, if present, are non specific. This explains why their diagnosis is challenging and usually delayed. Surgery is the cornerstone of their treatment, although interventional radiology represents currently a less invasive alternative option for some of them.

Prognostic impact of weight loss in 1-year survivors after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.

Malnutrition is common 1 year after esophageal cancer surgery. However, the prognostic impact of this malnutrition on long-term outcome has been poorly reported. This study aims at determining the potential effect on disease-free survival (DFS) of weight loss observed at 1 year in disease-free survivors after curative esophageal resection. From a prospective single-institution database, 304 patients having undergone a transthoracic esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy and gastric reconstruction between 1996 to 2008 were identified. Patients who died during the postoperative course (n= 24), patients who died within the first postoperative year (n= 12), patients who presented with an early recurrence within the first postoperative year (n= 20), and those who were lost to follow-up (n= 22) were excluded from the study, as well as those for whom the follow-up was shorter than 1 year (n= 21). The remaining 205 patients constituted a homogeneous group of 1-year disease-free survivors after full postoperative work-up and formed the material of the present study. Body weight (BW) values were collected before any treatment at the onset of symptoms (initial BW) and 1 year after esophagectomy. A 1-year weight loss (1-YWL) exceeding 10% of the initial BW defined an important malnutrition. Impact of the 1-YWL ≥ or <10% of the initial BW on DFS was investigated. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors affecting DFS. The mean initial BW was 69.1 ± 12 kg, corresponding to a mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.8 ± 3 kg/m(2) . Preoperatively, 32 (15%) patients were in the underweight category (BMI < 20 kg/m2), 110 (54%) were in normal (BMI = 20-24 kg/m2), and 63 (31%) were in the overweight category (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Mean 1-year BW was 63.5 ± 12 kg. 1-YWL was <10% of the initial BW in 92 patients (45%) and ≥ 10% in 113 patients (55%). Accordingly, 5-year DFS rates were 66% (median: 80 months) and 48% (median: 51 months), respectively (P= 0.005). On multivariate analysis, only three independent variables affected the DFS significantly: clinical N stage (cN) status (P= 0.007; odds ratio: 1.99, 1.2-3.3), incomplete resection (P= 0.008, OR: 3.6, 1.3-9.3), and 1-YWL ≥ 10% (P= 0.004, OR: 2.1: 1.2-3.4). 1-YWL of or exceeding 10% of the initial BW in 1-year disease-free survivors has a negative prognostic impact on DFS after esophagectomy for cancer. This information offers another view on the objectives of the perioperative nutritional care of these patients. Special vigilance program on the nutritional status in post-esophagectomy patients should be the rule.

How do COPD and healthy-lung patients tolerate the reduced volume ventilation strategy during OLV ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Although a strategy of tidal volume (V(t)) reduction during the one-lung ventilation (OLV) period is advised in thoracic surgery, the influence of the pre-operative respiratory status on the tolerance of this strategy remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the pulmonary function between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy-lung patients during the operative and the post-operative period. METHODS: Forty-eight patients undergoing a planned lobectomy for cancer and presenting either a healthy lung function (n=24) or a moderate COPD stage (n=24) were ventilated without external positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and received 9 ml/kg V(t) during the two-lung ventilation (TLV) period, secondary reduced to 6 ml/kg during the OLV period. Lung function was assessed by peroperative gas exchange, venous admixture, respiratory mechanical parameters and post-operative spirometric measurements. RESULTS: Although the PaO(2) was superior in the healthy-lung group during the TLV, once the OLV was established, no difference was observed between the two groups. Moreover, the PaO(2)/FiO(2) was proportionally more impaired in the healthy-lung group compared with the COPD group (50 ± 13 vs. 72 ± 19% of the baseline values after exclusion and 32 ± 15 vs. 51 ± 25% after the thoracotomy, P<0.05 for each) as well as the venous admixture. In the post-operative period, a higher decrease was observed in the healthy-lung group for the forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing V(t) to 6 ml/kg without the adjunction of external PEEP during OLV is associated with better preservation of lung function in the case of moderate COPD than in the case of healthy-lung status.

Lower oesophageal sphincter dysfunction is part of the functional abnormality in epiphrenic diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology and management of epiphrenic diverticula remain controversial. This study investigated the underlying functional abnormalities and long-term results of surgical treatment. METHODS: Patients with symptoms and epiphrenic diverticula who had undergone long myotomy and Belsey Mark IV fundoplication were reviewed retrospectively. They were assessed before and after surgery by radiology, functional testing and endoscopy, and compared with a group of 40 normal volunteers. RESULTS: The study included 23 consecutive symptomatic patients who had surgery, 20 of whom had oesophageal spastic disorders. Lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) incoordination was considered the most constant functional abnormality (P < 0.001). After operation oesophageal diameter increased, contraction pressures decreased and peristalsis was reduced. LOS resting and gradient pressures decreased (P = 0.001). Despite unchanged acid exposure values, endoscopy revealed increased mucosal damage after operation (P = 0.003). New columnar-lined metaplasia was documented in eight patients (P = 0.013). Symptoms had decreased after a median of 61 months (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Epiphrenic diverticulum was associated with spastic dysfunction and LOS abnormalities. A long myotomy including the LOS relieved functional obstruction and symptoms, but partial fundoplication did not prevent reflux damage.

Non-invasive ventilation for treatment of postoperative respiratory failure after oesophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) with that of conventional treatment in patients who develop postoperative acute respiratory failure (ARF) after oesophagectomy. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with ARF treated by NPPV were matched for diagnosis, age within 5 years, sex, preoperative radiochemotherapy and Charlson co-morbidity index with 36 patients who received conventional treatment (control group). RESULTS: NPPV was associated with a lower reintubation rate (nine versus 23 patients; P = 0.008), lower frequency of acute respiratory distress syndrome (eight versus 19 patients; P = 0.015), and a reduction in intensive care stay (mean(s.d.) 14(13) versus 22(18) days; P = 0.034). Anastomotic leakage was less common in patients receiving NPPV (two versus ten; P = 0.027). These patients also showed a greater improvement in gas exchange in the first 3 days after onset of ARF (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The use of NPPV for the treatment of postoperative ARF may decrease the incidence of endotracheal intubation and related complications, without increasing the risk of anastomotic leakage after oesophagectomy.

[Respiratory complications after oesophagectomy for cancer]. / Complications respiratoires de l'oesophagectomie pour cancer.

Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for resectable tumours of the oesophagus. Recent advances of surgical techniques and anaesthesiology have led to a substantial decrease in mortality and morbidity. Respiratory complications affect about 30% of patients after oesophagectomy and 80% of these complications occur within the first five days. Respiratory complications include sputum retention, pneumonia and ARDS. They are the major cause of morbidity and mortality after oesophageal resection and numerous studies have identified the factors associated with these complications. The mechanisms are not very different from those observed after pulmonary resection. Nevertheless, there is an important lack of definition, and evaluation of the incidence is particularly difficult. Furthermore, respiratory complications are related to many factors. Careful medical history, physical examination and pulmonary function testing help to identify the risk factors and provide strategies to reduce the risk of pulmonary complications. Standardized postoperative management and a better understanding of the pathogenesis of pulmonary complications are necessary to reduce hospital mortality. This article discusses preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors affecting respiratory complications and strategies to reduce the incidence of these complications after oesophagectomy.

The esophageal remnant after gastric interposition.

Gastric interposition is usually considered the reconstruction of choice following esophageal resection. However, a number of reports show that esophagectomy followed by a gastric transplant is associated with poor quality of life and significant reflux esophagitis in the esophageal remnant. The aim of this work is to review the factors affecting the mucosa of the esophageal remnant when using the stomach. A Medline was conducted. Additional references and search pathways were sourced from the references of reviewed articles. Reflux disease is considered an unavoidable consequence of esophageal resection followed by gastric interposition. Mucosal damage from acid and bile exposure in the esophageal remnant affects approximatively 50% of these patients. There is usually no correlation between symptoms and the presence of mucosal damage in the remaining esophagus. Endoscopy and endoscopic biopsies are the only reliable methods to document the status of the mucosa. When present, reflux esophagitis shows a progression from inflammation to erosions and to the development of columnar lined metaplasia. Esophageal and gastric function, gastric drainage operation, level of the anastomosis, route of reconstruction, and patients' position after the operation have all been shown to influence the severity and extent of damage in the esophageal remnant. Prevention and treatment of esophagitis in the remaining esophagus are discussed. When the stomach is used as a substitute to reconstruct the esophagus whether for malignant or benign conditions, an in vivo model of reflux diseases is created. Studies using this model may help clarify molecular and cellular events that lead to irreversible insult on the esophageal mucosa. Improvement to the reconstruction itself must be sought to favor better results with the gastric transplant.

Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on gastric blood flow after oesophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: The oesophagectomy procedure includes the formation of a gastric tube to re-establish the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract. The effect of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) on gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) remains unknown in clinical practice. The aim of this prospective observational study was to assess the microcirculatory changes induced by TEA in the early post-operative course. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients who underwent radical oesophagectomy with en-bloc resection and two-field lymphadenectomy for oesophageal cancer, and benefited from TEA during the post-operative course, were studied prospectively, and compared with nine patients who declined the use of TEA in the same period (control group). GMBF was measured using a laser Doppler flowmeter in three consecutive time periods (before and after 1 and 18 h of TEA infusion). Post-operative monitoring also included the measurement of arterial pressure, cardiac output, gas exchange and intrathoracic blood volume index. RESULTS: After the first and 18th hour of infusion, TEA induced an increase in GMBF compared with baseline and the control group. The mean arterial pressure and intrathoracic blood volume index decreased after the first hour of TEA infusion with no influence on the cardiac index. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical study demonstrates that TEA improves the microcirculation of the gastric tube in the early post-oesophagectomy period. The clinical relevance of TEA in this setting should be validated in larger studies focusing on the clinical outcome following oesophagectomy.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in young adults: a benign clinical entity]. / Pneumomédiastin spontané du jeune adulte: une entité clinique bénigne.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a little known cause of chest pain in young adults. The prognosis is invariably good. CASE REPORT: The authors report two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with different aetiologies developing in young adults. The first occurred during strenuous sport and the second during an asthma attack. CONCLUSION: The discussion stresses the frequency of this condition in young men, its pathogenesis and natural history. In particular the authors draw on the current scientific data to explain the absence of predisposing factors and the extreme rarity of relapse of this benign disorder. Poor acquaintance with this clinical entity may lead to unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic actions. The authors suggest a guideline for the management of this disorder.