• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2004

The history of esophageal replacement in infants or children is the history of development of various kinds of alternative conduits such as stomach, colon, and small bowel. The gastric tube has been the most widely used conduit. From January 1988 to May 2003, 23 esophageal replacements with gastric tube were performed at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Childrens Hospital. Statistical analysis was performed using Windows SPSS11.0 Pearson exact test. There were Gross type A(n=10), type B(n=1), type C(n=11), type D(n=1). Ten patients who had long gap esophageal atresia (type A-8, type B-1, type C-1) and 13 patients (type A 2, type C-10, type D-1) who had stenosis, leakage, recurred tracheoesophageal fistula, and esophagocutaneous fistula after previous corrective operations, had esophageal replacement with gastric tube. Mean follow-up periods were 4 year 2 months (7 months-15 year 1 month). There were postoperative complications including GERD in 16 (69.6 %), leakages in 7 (30.4 %), diverticulum at anastomosis in 2 (8.7 %), anastomosis site stenosis in 4 (17.3 %), and distal stenosis of the gastric tube in 1 (4.3 %). There was no statistical significance between operation types and postoperative leakage and gastroesophageal reflux. In conclusion, esophageal replacement with gastric tube may be a useful surgical option in esophageal atresia with long gap and esophageal atresia complicated by previous corrective operation.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2007

We reviewed the records of 25 patients who were re-operated upon after primary repair of esophageal atresia with or without fistula at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, from January 1997 to March 2007. Types of the esophageal atresia anomalies were Gross type A in 5 patients, C in 18, and E in 2. The indications for re-operation were anastomosis stricture (n = 14), tracheo-bronchial remnant (n = 4), persistent anastomosis leakage (n = 3), recurrent tracheo-esophageal fistula (n = 2) and esophageal web (n = 2). The interval between primary and secondary surgery was from 48 days to 26 years 5 months (mean: 2 years and 4 months). Four patients required a third operation. The interval between the second and third operation was between 1 year 1 month and 3 year 10 month (mean: 2 years 5 months). Mean follow up period after last operation was 35 months (1 years-8 years 6 months). The secondary surgery was end-to-end esophageal anastomosis in 15, esophagoplasty in 5, gastric tube replacement in 5. After secondary operation, 6 patients had anastomosis stricture (4 patients were relieved of the symptoms by balloon dilatation, 2 patients underwent tertiary operation). Five patients had leakage (sealed on conservative management in all). Two patients had recurrent tracheo-esophagel fistula (1 patient received chemical cauterization and 1 patient underwent tertiary operation). Currently, only one patient has feeding problems. There were no mortalities. Secondary esophageal surgery after primary surgery for esophageal atresia was effective and safe, should be positively considered when complications do not respond to nonoperative therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1032-1037
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• 1995

Between September 1988 and December 1993, 32 cases of benign esophageal stricture, of which 12 males and 20 females, were managed in Seoul National University Hospital hospital. Their age ranged from 2 to 61 years, and the mean age was 33.9 years. The ingestion of caustic agent was the most common cause, and the caustic material was acid in 16 patients [58% and alkali in 11patients [39% . Nearly all of the patients complained of dysphagia, and some of chest pain, epigastric pain, weight loss, vomiting, general malaise, and dyspnea. The most frequent site of stricture was found in the upper thoracic esophagus with 34% incidence followed by the lower thoracic esophagus[28% , whole esophagus[19% , and the mid esophagus[16% . The operations performed were 17[53% ECG[esophagocologastrostomy , 5[16% PCG[pharyngocologastrostomy , 5[16% EG[esophagogastrostomy , 2 EJG [esophagojejunogastrostormy by free jejunal graft , and 1 case each of EJ [esophagojejunostomy , esophageal end to end anastomosis, jejunostomy only, and gastrostomy only. In 23 patients [72% , diseased esophaguses were resected, using transhiatal total esophagectomy in 15 [47% and transthoracic partial esophagectomy in 8 [25% . Of those 23 patients, 3 patients [9.4% were diagnosed as esophageal carsinoma on microscopic examination. The postoperative most common complications were unilateral vocal cord palsy in 6 patients [19% , followed by cervical anastomosis leakage in 4 patients [12.5% , wound infection in 2 patients [6% , and pneumothorax in 2 patients [6% . Late death occurred 8 months after the operation in one patient, which was associated with infection due to anastomotic leakage. Our experience shows that the rate of mortality and the morbidity were low in patients receiving surgical management for esophageal stricture and that the cancer transformation rate was high. We recommend esophageal reconstruction surgery with esophagectomy [transhiatal or transthoracic for the esophageal stricture because it can avoid a chance of prevent cancer transformation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.546-549
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• 1990

Spontaneous esophageal perforation occurred rarely but often lead to a high mortality and morbidity. We had experienced one case of spontaneous rupture of esophagus. A 52 - year old male patient was admitted to our hospital because of the chest pain and massive hematemesis after emetic strain. Esophagogram that taken at private clinic revealed leakage of dye into the right pleural space. Under the diagnosis of the thoracic esophageal perforation, two stage operation was planned because the size of perforation was large and pyothorax was developed on the right side. At first, exclusion and diversion of the esophagus were carried out. After six months, the esophageal reconstruction with left colon was performed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.222-225
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• 2020

Owing to varying clinical definitions of anastomotic stricture following esophageal reconstruction, its reported incidence rate varies from 10% to 56%. Strictures adversely impact patients' quality of life. Risk factors, such as the anastomosis method, leakage, ischemia, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and underlying disease have been mentioned, but conflicting information has been reported. Balloon dilation is regarded as a safe and effective treatment method for patients with benign anastomotic strictures. Reoperations are seldom required. The etiology and management of anastomotic strictures are reviewed in this article.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.715-717
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• 2004

A 59-year old woman visited us for incidentally detected posterior mediastinal mass. Preoperative esophagography, esophagoscopy, esophageal ultrasound and computed tomography showed a esophageal submucosal tumor. With the diagonsis of esophageal leiomyoma, the patient underwent right side video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): The mediastinal pleura and the esophageal muscle layers were longitudinally opened and the tumor was enucleated. Esophagography performed at 6th postoperative day revealed no esophageal mucosal bulging or leakage. The patient was discharged reveiving a soft diet on the 7th postoperative day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1025-1031
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• 1995

Thirty patients who underwent esophageal resections due to esophageal carcinoma and benign strictures, and esophagovisceral anastomoses were performed by hand suture in 11 patients[Group I and by using the end to end anastomosis[EEA stapler in 19 patients[Group II . Anastomoses were performed in the thoracic cavity in 24 patients[Right 19, Left 5 and in the cervical area in 6 patients. There was one operative mortality[3.3% in a cancer patient who underwent Ivor-Lewis operation using EEA stapler. She expired on POD 38 days due to renal failure and sepsis. There were two anastomotic leakage in the sutured group and no anastomotic leakage in the stapled group. Late anastomotic strictures occurred in 10 patients[52.6% in the stapled group compared to 2 patients[18.1% in the sutured group. Most of the patients with late anastomotic strictures responded to one or two trials of TTS dilations. Using EEA stapler in performing esophagovisceral anastomosis is a safe method with acceptable range of complication rate, and total admission period after the operation for group I was 30.3 days compared to 25.4 days in group II although it had no clinical significance. The follow up was possible in 23 patients; 5 patients in group I died within mean 12.6 months and 9 patients in group II within mean 14.2 months.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 1999

Background : the technical modality of esophagogastric anastomosis plays an important part in the factors leading to anastomotic leakage and stricture. Objective : The objective of this study was to compare the leakage and stricture rates between the different anastomosis techniques. Materials and Methods : A retrospective study was undertaken in the patients with esophageal cancer who underwent a esophagectomy. Hand-sewn anastomosis was performed in one layer with interrupted sutures(Manual group). The stapler group was divided into two subgroups, such as PCEEA group and Endo-GIA group. Results : The differences of preoperative patient profiles between the groups were not significant. Overall mortality fates were 5% in manual group, 5% in PCEEA group and 11.5% in Endo-GIA group. Fewer anastomotic leakage occurred in manual group(5%) than in PCEEA group(10%) or in Endo-GIA group(15.4%). The postoperative stricture rate was higher in PCEEA group(35%) than in manual group(5%) or in Endo-GIA group(0%) Conclusion : Statistically, there were no significant differences in the anastomotic leakage and stricture rates between the hand-sewn and mechanical anastomosis. But the stricture rate was lower in the group using the linear stapling device and the leakage rate was lower in the hand-sewn group than the other groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 1990

Between May 1979 and April 1989, 213 patients with esophageal injuries visited the Department of the Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Department, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 159 non perforated esophageal injuries accompanied by hematemesis, and 54 perforated esophageal injuries. The causes of non perforated esophageal injuries were Mallory-Weise Syndrome [%], corrosive esophagitis [54], esophageal carcinoma [4], foreign bodies [2], sclerotherapy due to esophageal varices [3]. The causes of perforated esophageal injuries were esophageal anastomosis[13], malignancies[17], esophagoscopy or bougienage[5], chest trauma[5], foreign bodies[5], paraesophageal surgery[3], others[6] In esophageal perforation due to foreign bodies, esophagoscopy or bougienage, there were 6 cervical esophageal perforations and 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. There were no mortalities in the treatment of the cervical esophageal perforations and 5 deaths resulted in the treatment of 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. And four of six patients with thoracic esophageal perforations died in the initiation of treatment over 24 hours, after trauma. There were another 12 deaths in the patients with chest trauma, malignancies or chronic inflammation except esophageal injuries due to foreign bodies or instruments during the hospital stay or less than 30 days after esophageal injuries. One patient with esophageal carcinoma died due to bleeding and respiratory failure after irradiation. Another patient with esophago gastrostomy due to esophageal carcinoma died of sepsis due to EG site leakage. One patient with a mastectomy due to breast cancer followed by irradiation died of sepsis due to an esophagopleural fistula. Two patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome died; of hemorrhagic shock in one and of respiratory failure due to massive transfusion in the other. One patient with TEF died of respiratory failure and another died of pneumonia and respiratory failure. One patient with esophageal perforation due to blunt chest trauma died of brain damage accompanied with chest trauma.