Postoperative complications and survival rate of esophageal cancer: Two-period analysis. / Complicaciones postoperatorias y supervivencia del cáncer de esófago: análisis de dos periodos distintos.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, treatment of esophageal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which esophagectomy remains the mainstay. The aim of this report is to assess whether multimodal treatment and minimally invasive surgery have led to a lower morbidity rate and an improvement in survival rates. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 318 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer including 81 esophagectomies. The periods of 2000-2007 and 2008-2015 were compared, analyzing the prognostic factors that may have an impact in morbidity and survival rate. RESULTS: Major postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification accounted for 35%, showing a decrease between the 1.st and 2.nd period: 41% morbidity vs. 30%, 27% mortality vs. 9% (p < .001) and 13.5% fistulas vs. 7%. The implementation of thoracoscopic esophagectomy contributed to the outcome improvement, as shown by 19% morbidity and 5% mortality rates, with triangularized mechanical anastomosis showing 9% fistula and 5% stenosis. The overall 5-year survival rate was 19%, with a significant increase from 11% in the 1.st period to 28% in the 2.nd (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary assessment of patients with esophageal cancer, as well as better selection and indication of treatment and the introduction of new minimally invasive techniques (thoracoscopy and triangularized mechanical anastomosis), have improved the morbidity and mortality rates of esophagectomies, resulting in increased survival rates of these patients.

Colonic obstruction secondary to Actinomyces.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon granulomatous infection by Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. A. israelii is a major human pathogen. The most frequent locations for colonization are cervicofacial (50%), abdominal (20%) and thoracic (15-20%). The abdominal actinomycosis predisposing factors include recent surgery, trauma and neoplasias. Certain cases have been associated with the intrauterine contraception device (IUD).