• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.205-210
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• 2020

Esophageal anastomotic leak is the most common and serious complication following esophagectomy. However, the standard treatment for anastomotic leaks remains unclear. Recently, endoscopic vacuum therapy has become an important non-surgical alternative treatment method for patients with esophageal anastomotic leak. This treatment involves the endoscopic placement of a sponge connected to a nasogastric tube into the defect cavity or lumen. Subsequently, continuous negative pressure is delivered to the cavity through the tube. Several studies have reported a treatment success rate of 80% to 100%. In this study, we review the mechanism of action, the method of performing the procedure, its safety and efficacy, and prognostic factors for failure of endoscopic vacuum therapy in the management of patients with anastomotic leak, and on this basis attempted to confirm the possibility of establishing a standardized treatment protocol using endoscopic vacuum therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

Background: Barium swallow is performed following esophagectomy to evaluate the anastomosis for detection of leaks and to assess the emptying of the gastric conduit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the barium swallow study in diagnosing anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy. Methods: Patients who underwent esophagectomy from January 2000 to December 2013 at our institution were investigated. Barium swallow was routinely done between days 5-7 to detect a leak. These results were compared to clinically determined leaks (defined by neck wound infection requiring jejunal feeds and or parenteral nutrition) during the postoperative period. The sensitivity and specificity of barium swallow in diagnosing clinically significant anastomotic leaks was determined. Results: A total of 395 esophagectomies were performed (mean age, 62.2 years). The indications for the esophagectomy were as follows: malignancy (n=320), high-grade dysplasia (n=14), perforation (n=27), benign stricture (n=7), achalasia (n=16), and other (n=11). A variety of techniques were used including transhiatal (n=351), McKeown (n=35), and Ivor Lewis (n=9) esophagectomies. Operative mortality was 2.8% (n=11). Three hundred and sixty-eight patients (93%) underwent barium swallow study after esophagectomy. Clinically significant anastomotic leak was identified in 36 patients (9.8%). Barium swallow was able to detect only 13/36 clinically significant leaks. The sensitivity of the swallow in diagnosing a leak was 36% and specificity was 97%. The positive and negative predictive values of barium swallow study in detecting leaks were 59% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: Barium swallow is an insensitive but specific test for detecting leaks at the cervical anastomotic site after esophagectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1998

It would be possible to manage the intestinal anastomotic failure with intraluminal stenting, but its reports are very rare. We experienced a effective and dramatic improvement of esophago-jejunal anastomotic leak in a esophageal and gastric double cancer patient with intraluminal stenting. The intraluminal stenting was tried at the 28th postoperative day and the anastomotic leak and inflammatory signs were disappeared about 3 weeks later. Postoperative 11th months now, the stent was moved about 1 cm downward but not changed further, and he enjoys regular diet without any problems. And we think the stenting would be helful with some limitations in the intestinal anastomotic leak patient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.668-675
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• 2024

Aortic anastomotic leak is an uncommon complication after ascending aortic replacement for acute aortic dissection. Redo-surgery is the traditional standard treatment despite high mortality and morbidity. Recently, endovascular treatment has been attempted as an alternative approach in a few case reports. Here, we present two cases of aortic anastomotic leak due to suture line dehiscence after aortic graft replacement for type A aortic dissection, which were successfully treated by coil with subsequent N-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization and an Amplatzer^TM vascular plug.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-156
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• 1994

Bentall`s operation for repair of annuloaortic ectasia has been associated with postoperative bleeding and with false aneurysm of the anastomotic site between the coronary orifice and composite graft.Among 5 cases, 2 cases have been operated direct anastomosis between coronary artery and vascular graft.Remained 3 cases have been operated with doughnutlike Teflon felt buttress.The technique of sandwiching the freed button of aortic wall bearing the coronary artery ostium between an outer Teflon felt doughnutlike buttress and the inner composite graft provides a leak-proof anastomosis.We experienced one case reoperation for bleeding at coronary anastomotic site above method.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2015

Purpose: Although several studies report risk factors for anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for gastric cancer, they have yielded conflicting results. The present retrospective cohort study was performed to identify risk factors that are consistently associated with anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for stomach cancer. Materials and Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy at a single gastric surgical unit between May 2003 and December 2012 were identified retrospectively. The associations between anastomotic leakage and 23 variables related to patient history, diagnosis, and surgery were assessed and analyzed with logistic regression. Results: In total, 3,827 patients were included. The rate of anastomotic leakage was 1.88% (72/3,827). Multiple regression analysis showed that male sex (P=0.001), preoperative/intraoperative transfusion (P<0.001), presence of cardiovascular disease (P=0.023), and tumor location (P<0.001) were predictive of anastomotic leakage. Patients with and without leakage did not differ significantly in terms of their 5-year survival: 97.6 vs. 109.5 months (P=0.076). Conclusions: Male sex, cardiovascular disease, perioperative transfusion, and tumor location in the upper third of the stomach were associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage. Although several studies have reported that an anastomotic complication has a negative impact on long-term survival, this association was not observed in the present study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.584-593
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• 1983

Esophageal reconstruction was performed in 344 patients with irreversible stricture of the esophagus resulting from caustic burns at National Medical Center from 1959 to 1982.There were 113 males and 231 females, and ranging from 2.5 to 58 years of age, and mean age was 26.5 years, and 25 cases were less than 10 years old. Caustic materials were 286 [83.2%] alkali and 50[14.5%] acid. The most frequent stricture site was upper thoracic esophagus as 56.7%, and the next was cervical as 31.4%, and lower, 11.9%. The stomach was involved in 10.8% totally, and hypopharyngeal stricture was also noticed in 3.2%, and in 3 cases, hypopharyngeal reconstruction was needed due to extensive scar change. In 329 of total 344 cases, colon interposition was performed without resection of the strictured esophagus except 4 cases which were complicated T-E fistula or perforation, and most of them, about 10-15 cm of terminal ileum with right half of the colon was used as the graft. The left colon with anti-peristalsis was used as graft only in 30 cases. The most common postoperative complication was anastomotic leak as 16.7% of total cases, and it was 12.5% from neck, 3.3% from ileocolostoma and 0.9% from cologastrostoma. Next common complication was neck stenosis [8.8%], aspiration pneumonia [6.4%], and graft necrosis [3.9%] in order. Overall operative mortality was 5.5% [14/329], and main causes of death were graft necrosis, sepsis due to anastomotic leak, gastric bleeding, and intestinal obstruction. Besides of colon interposition, according to shape or level of the stricture, plastic repair or segmental resection and direct anastomosis was done in 9, and 1 of them were complicated stenosis at the anastomotic site. In lower stricture, esophagogastrostomy was done in 10 cases, and 1 case expired due to hepatitis, and anastomotic stenosis was occurred in 2 cases at 1.5 months and 2.4 years later. During follow-up of 298 cases colon interposition from 6 months to 22 years, 82.6% was excellent, and 2.9% was complained of mild discomfort, and 4 cases were dead laterly, but 3 of them were not related to reconstruction.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.108-121
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• 2024

Anastomotic leaks and fistulas are significant complications of gastric surgery that potentially lead to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Surgical intervention is reserved for cases with severe symptoms or hemodynamic instability; however, surgery carries a higher risk of complications. With advancements in endoscopic treatment options, endoscopic approaches have emerged as the primary choice for managing these complications. Endoscopic clipping is a traditional method comprising 2 main categories: through-the-scope clips and over-the-scope clips. Through-the-scope clips are user friendly and adaptable to various clinical scenarios, whereas over-the-scope clips can close larger defects. Another promising approach is endoscopic stent insertion, which has shown a high success rate for leak closure, although vigilant monitoring is required to monitor stent migration. Infection control is essential in post-surgical leakage cases, and endoscopic internal drainage provides a relatively safe and noninvasive means to manage fluids, contributing to infection control and wound healing promotion. Endoscopic suturing offers full-thickness wound closure, but requires additional training and endoscopic versatility. As a promising tool, endoscopic vacuum therapy potentially surpasses stent therapy by draining inflammatory materials and closing defects. Furthermore, the use of tissue sealants, such as fibrin glue and cyanoacrylate, has been reported to be effective in selected situations. The choice of endoscopic device should be tailored to individual cases and specific patient conditions, with careful consideration of the nature of the defect. Further extensive studies involving larger patient populations are required to provide more robust evidence on the efficacy of endoscopic approach in managing post-gastric anastomotic leaks.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.799-805
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• 1999

Background: Leakage, stricture formation, and tumor recurrence at the anastomotic site are serious problems after esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagus or cardia. The prevalence of these postoperative complications may be affected by whether an anastomosis is made in the neck or in the chest, therefore a comparison was made between anastomoses made at these two sites. Material and Method: Between 1987 and 1998, 36 patients with cancer of the esophagus underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with cervical(NA, n=20) or thoracic anastomosis(CA, n=16). The tumors were staged postoperatively(stage IIA, n=13; s tage IIB, n=7; stage III, n=16) and were located in the middle thoracic(n=22) or lower thoracic esophagus and cardia(n=14). Result: The overall operative mortality was 8.3%(5% for NA group, 12.5% for CA group). The anastomotic leak rate for the NA group was 15.0% and 12.5% for the CA group. The anastomotic leak rate differed according to the manual(27.3%) or stapled(8.0%) techniques(p < 0.05). The median proximal resection margins in the NA and CA groups were 9.6 cm and 5.8 cm, and the corresponding rates of anastomotic tumor recurrence were 5.3% and 28.6%(p < 0.05). The prevalence of benign stricture formation (defined as moderate/severe dysphagia) was higher in the NA group(36.8%) than in the CA group(21.4%). When an anastomosis was made by the stapled technique, smaller size of the staple increased the prevalence of stricture formation - 41.7% with 25-mm staple and 9.1% with 28-mm staple(p < 0.05). Conclusion: Wider resection margin could decrease the anastomotic tumor recurrence, and the stapled technique could decrease the anastomotic leak. The prevalence of benign stricture was higher in the cervical anastomosis but the anastomotic leak and smaller size(25-mm) of the staple should be considered as risk factors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.309-315
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• 1990

The introduction of end-to-end anastomosis stapler [EEA stapler] into esophageal surgery has reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with esophageal resection mainly owing to a reduction in the incidence of accidence of anastomotic leak. We now report the results of the 37 patients undergoing esophagectomy or esophagogastrectomy with EEA stapler in the department of cardiothoracic Surgery, Kosin Medical Center No leakage was demonstrated in the 37 esophagogastric anastomotic sites, but dehiscence of the TA stapled gastrotomy suture line occurred in two patient One patient was recovered with conservative treatment but the other patient was died due to hepatic metastasis of esophageal carcinoma during conservative treatment. And one severe esophagogastric anastomotic stricture was developed at the 30th postoperative day, but improved after dilatation with balloon dilatation catheter of Swiss Med. Tech. Company. The other complications were postoperative pneumonia[1 case], wound disruption and infection[3 cases], but all of 4 patients were recovered with conservative treatment. We experienced relative good postoperative results with use of EEA stapler in esophageal surgery. On the basis of our experience, we believe that the EEA stapler has definite place in esophageal surgery.