• 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.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Anastomotic leakage after esophageal surgery remains a feared complication. During the last decade, management of this complication changed from surgical revision to a more conservative and endoscopic approach. However, the treatment remains controversial as the indications for conservative, endoscopic, and surgical approaches remain non-standardized. Methods: Between 2010 and 2020, all patients who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for underlying malignancy were included in this study. The data of 28 patients diagnosed with anastomotic leak were further analyzed. Results: Among 141 patients who underwent resection, 28 (19.9%) developed an anastomotic leak, eight (28.6%) of whom died. Thirteen patients were treated with endoluminal vacuum therapy (EVT), seven patients with self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) four patients with primary surgery, one patient with a hemoclip, and three patients were treated conservatively. EVT achieved closure in 92.3% of the patients with a large defect and no EVT-related complications. SEMS therapy was successful in clinically stable patients with small defect sizes. Conclusions: EVT can be successfully applied in the treatment of anastomotic leakage in critically ill patients, while SEMS should be limited to clinically stable patients with a small defect size. Surgery is only warranted in patients with sepsis with graft necrosis.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.401-407
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Surgeons and endoscopists have started to use endoscopically inserted double pigtail stents (DPTs) in the management of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) leaks, including UGI anastomotic leaks. We investigated our own experiences in this patient population. Methods: From March 2017 to June 2020, 12 patients had endoscopic internal drainage of a radiologically proven anastomotic leak after UGI surgery in two tertiary UGI centers. The primary outcome measure was the time to removal of the DPTs after anastomotic healing. The secondary outcome measure was early oral feeding after DPT insertion. Results: Eight of the 12 patients (67%) required only one DPT, whereas four (33%) required two DPTs. The median duration of drainage was 42 days. Two patients required surgery due to inadequate control of sepsis. Of the remaining 10 patients, nine did not require a change in DPT before anastomotic healing. Nine patients were allowed oral fluids within the 1st week and a soft diet in the 2nd week. One patient was allowed clear oral feeds on the 8th day after DPT insertion. Conclusions: Endoscopic internal drainage is becoming an established minimally invasive technique for controlling anastomotic leak after UGI surgery. It allows for early oral nutritional feeding and minimizes discomfort from conventional external drainage.

• 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.