Current epidemiological profile of Chagasic megaesophagus in Central Brazil

Introduction Chagasic megaesophagus (CM) is the most common digestive manifestation of Chagas disease in Brazil, and the State of Goiás is one of the most affected regions. In recent decades, the Hospital das Clínicas (HC)/Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) has been a reference center for the study and treatment of CM. The objective of this study was to characterize the current epidemiological profile of patients with CM observed at the HC of the UFG from 1998 to 2010. Methods In total, 939 patient records were analyzed, and age, gender, place of birth, serology, symptoms and radiological classification according to Rezende et al. were analyzed. Results The median patient age was 55 years. Male patients were more (54%) prevalent than female patients. The prevalence of younger patients (less than 31 years of age) was 4.2%, but 82.1% of the younger patients were from State of Bahia. Patients older than 40 years were the majority (85.5%). The radiological groups were distributed as follows: Group I (35.9%), Group II (32.9%), Group III (17%) and Group IV (14.2%). Conclusions Compared with previous studies by the same group in 1975, 1994 and 1995, the number of younger patients decreased, and the frequency curve has shifted to older patients. .

Reconstrução esofágica pela esofagocoloplastia no megaesôfago avançado em pacientes gastrectomizados / Esophageal reconstruction by esophagocoloplasty for megaesophagus end-stage in gastrectomized patients

RACIONAL: A necessidade de esofagocoloplastia em pacientes com megaesôfago avançado, previamente submetidos à gastrectomia não é frequente, mas quando executada traz consigo maior dificuldade técnica, o que pode elevar o número de complicações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as complicações da reconstrução de trânsito pela esofagocoloplastia em uma série de pacientes submetidos à esofagectomia transmediastinal por megaesôfago avançado com gastrectomia prévia. MÉTODOS: De julho de 1983 a abril de 2009, 204 pacientes com megaesôfago grau III e IV foram submetidos à ressecção esofágica no Departamento de Cirurgia do Hospital Celso Pierro da Puc-Campinas. Em 92 pacientes a ressecção foi pela técnica da mucosectomia esofágica; em 84 pela via transmediastinal; em 38 pela via transtorácica. Em 194 pacientes (95 por cento) a reconstrução do trânsito foi realizada pela transposição gástrica e nos 10 restantes (5 por cento), pela transposição do colo transverso. O procedimento foi indicado pelo fato dos pacientes já terem sido submetidos à gastrectomia prévia. Todos eram do sexo masculino, com idade média de 47, 5 anos. RESULTADOS: Sete pacientes (70 por cento) apresentaram uma ou mais complicações, sejam sistêmicas ou locais. Das sistêmicas, um paciente apresentou tromboflebite em membro inferior, com boa evolução; outro, infarto do miocárdio, com evolução fatal; três pacientes (30 por cento) apresentaram infecção pulmonar, com boa evolução. Das complicações locais, quatro tiveram deiscência da anastomose esofagocolônica cervical, tendo boa evolução com tratamento conservador. Cinco pacientes evoluíram com estenose da anastomose esofagocolônica cervical entre o 35º e 63º dia do pós-operatório, sendo realizadas dilatações endoscópicas com boa evolução. De oito pacientes acompanhados neste período, seis (75 por cento) apresentavam boa deglutição para sólidos e/ou pastosos, referindo estarem satisfeitos com ato cirúrgico por terem retornado aos hábitos usuais...

BACKGROUND: Esophagocoloplasty in advanced chagasic megaesophagus is seldom necessary. But, when realized, brings with it a major incidence of complications. AIM: To verify the complications following esophagus reconstruction by esophagocoloplasty in patients with previous gastrectomy submitted to transmediastinal esophagectomy for chagasic megaesophagus end-stage. METHODS: From July 1983 to April 2009, 204 patients with chagasic megaesophagus stage III and IV were submitted to esophageal resection at the Surgery Department at the Hospital Celso Pierro Puc-Campinas, Brasil. Ninety-two patients had the procedure done by esophageal mucosectomy; 84 under-went a transhiatal esophagectomy and in 38, esophagectomies were done through a transthoracic approach. In 194 patients (95 percent) the reconstruction was done by gastric interposition and in the 10 remaining patients (5 percent) it was by transposition of the transverse colon. This procedure was recommend due to previous gastrectomy done in all patients. All of them were male with average age of 47.5 years old. RESULTS: Seven patients (70 percent) developed one or more complications, either systemic or local. Among the systemic complications, one patient had thrombophlebitis in the lower extremity, with good recovery; one had a myocardial infarction with fatal evolution; three patients (30 percent) had pulmonary infection with good recovery. Amongst the local complications, four patients had cervical anastomotic leak with satisfactory recovery with conservative treatment. Five had cervical anastomotic stricture between the 35th and the 63rd post-operative day, with good recovery after endoscopic anastomotic dilatations. From the eight patients followed during this period, six (75 percent) had good deglutition for solids and/or semi-solids, and satisfied with the surgery since were able to return to their regular diet. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that the esophagocoloplasty results in...

Alterações cronológicas do perfil dos pacientes e da modalidade de tratamento cirúrgico do megaesôfago chagásico

OBJECTIVE: To analize the changes in the profile of the patients with chagasic megaesophagus and treatment modalities by comparing two groups of patients in different time periods. METHODS: Two series of consecutive patients with chagasic megaesophagus treated surgically were analized in two different time periods, between 1955 and 1962 (n=147) and between 1988 and1998 (n=100). The age, duration of disphagia and the stage of the disease were correlated to the type of surgical procedure. The degree of megaesophagus was defined radiologically. RESULTS: There was a reduction in the number of patients, an increase in the median age and a reduction in the duration of disphagia in the second time period. During the first period, ressectional procedures were more common, while cardiomiotomy predominated in the second. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of the patients with chagasic megaesophagus, treated at the HCFMRP-USP, has changed along the years, the main change being earlier stages of the disease. Earlier medical assistance results in less aggressive surgical procedures with the perspective of better outcomes.

OBJETIVO: Analisar eventuais mudanças no perfil de pacientes com megaesôfago chagásico e na escolha da modalidade de tratamento cirúrgico, mediante estudo comparativo de dois grupos de pacientes em períodos diferentes. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas duas séries consecutivas de pacientes com megaesôfago chagásico tratados cirurgicamente em dois períodos de tempo: de 1955 a 1962 (n = 147) e de 1988 a 1998 (n = 100). A idade, a duração da disfagia e o estádio evolutivo da doença foram correlacionados com o tipo de cirurgia realizada. O grau do megaesôfago foi definido mediante exame radiológico padronizado. RESULTADOS: Houve redução no número de pacientes, aumento da idade média e diminuição da duração da disfagia no segundo período. As cirurgias de ressecção esofágica predominaram no primeiro e a cardiomiotomia no segundo período. CONCLUSÕES: O perfil dos pacientes com megaesôfago chagásico atendidos no HCFMRP-USP mudou, caracterizando-se pelo estádio mais precoce da doença. A assistência médica mais precoce resulta em modalidade terapêutica cirúrgica menos agressiva, com perspectiva de melhores resultados.