Treatment of anastomotic leak after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic leak (AL) is one of the most serious surgical complications after esophagectomy. Endoscopic, radiological and surgical methods are used in the treatment of AL. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our therapeutic procedures and results of AL treatment after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (ILE). METHODS: Retrospective audit of all ILEs performed in the years 20052019. Evaluation of AL treatment results according to Esophagectomy Complication Consensus Group (ECCG) classification and according to the primary therapeutic procedure with a focus on the treatment with esophageal stent. RESULTS: Out of 817 patients with ILE, AL was detected in 80 patients (9.8%): ECCG type I 33 (41%), type II 23 (29%) and type III 24 (30%) patients. Some 33 patients (41%) were treated conservatively. Esophageal stents were used in 39 patients (49%), of which 18 (23%) had concomitant percutaneous drainage and 17 (21%) were reoperated. Reoperation without a stent insertion was performed in 7 patients (9%). Esophageal diversion with cervical esophagostomy was performed in a total of 16 patients (20%). Esophageal stent treatment was successful in 24/39 patients (62%). Airway fistula occurred in 4 patients treated with stent (10%). Endoscopic vacuum therapy was successfully used in three patients after stent failure. Eight patients (10%) died as a result of AL. Mortality of AL type I, II and III was 0%, 4% and 29%. CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of AL requires an individual and multidisciplinary approach. The primary effort should aim to preserve anastomosis using endoscopic and radiological methods. In case of insufficient clinical effect, we recommend not to hesitate with reoperation. If primary therapy fails, the life-saving procedure is a cervical esophagostomy.

[Stents--palliative and curative management of esophageal conditions. Seven-year surgical experience]. / Stenty--paliativní a kurativní osetrení jícnu. Sedmileté zkusenosti chirurgického pracoviste.

The authors present their experience with endoscopic introduction of stents into esophagus and cardia based on data collected from a group of 520 patients. Their study included both paliative management of stenoses in carcinomas of the esophagus and cardia, as well as management of other esophageal conditions, including fistules, perforations and various types of stenoses, including the use of novel absorbable stents.

[Paliative managment of oesophageal carcinomas--our experience]. / Paliativmní osetriení karcinomu jícnu--nase zkusenosti.

The authors of this presentation explain their experience with methods of paliative care of oesophagus carcinoma. The indication criteria are described and compared advantages and disadvantages of those methods. There is an accent in most frequent method--oesophagus stent implementation. The results in the group of patients after the stent implementation are described, also complications and other solutions.

[Complications of endoscopic extraction of foreign bodies and their treatment]. / Komplikace endoskopické extrakce cizího telesa a její resení.

Endoscopic extraction of foreign bodies from the upper part of the digestive tract has become recently the method of choice. As this method can be associated with very serious complications which cannot be resolved endoscopically and which may have permanent sequelae, it is important to consider the indication of endoscopic extraction of foreign bodies from the oesophagus or stomach very carefully. Fore illustration the authors present the case of a young female patient who swallowed by mistake a fork During its extraction a serious injury of the oesophagus occurred which had to be treated surgically. In the discussion pros and cons of endoscopic extraction are considered, the main principle being primum non nocere.

[Personal experience with palliative endoscopic treatment of stenoses in the upper gastrointestinal tract]. / Nase zkusenosti s paliativním endoskopickým osetrením stenóz v oblasti horní cásti GIT.

The authors discuss the endoscopic approach to stenoses in the area of the oesophagus and cardia in patients with contraindication of radical surgery. They describe the method of treatment with regard to the type and character of the stenosis. The work is based on 10 years experience with palliative endoscopic treatment of benign and malignant stenoses of the upper GIT. During this period more than 800 dilatations were made, 150 oesophageal prostheses were introduced and during the past two years 25 metallic stents.