Zenker's and epiphrenic diverticula in a patient with cutis laxa: should the surgical technique be modified?

Currently, most of esophageal diverticula arise as the result of a pulsion effect. Some esophageal motor disorders increase the intraluminal pressure and after some time, the diverticula grow through a weak point of esophageal wall. In these cases, the surgical treatment of choice is the myotomy associated with diverticulopexy or diverticulectomy. Adding a fundoplication is accepted to avoid the consequences of gastroesophageal reflux after myotomy in the epiphrenic diverticula surgery. There are other causes of esophageal diverticula that change the resistance of esophageal wall. Cutis laxa, a congenital or acquired connective disease, is a strange one. In our patient, a good result was reached modifying the standard technique accord to its ethiopathogenic mechanism.

Effectiveness of a written clinical pathway for enhanced recovery after transthoracic (Ivor Lewis) oesophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the feasibility of a protocol-driven written clinical pathway for multidisciplinary postoperative management after oesophagectomy for oesophageal neoplasia, and examined whether the application of such a protocol could shorten hospital stay and reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing transthoracic oesophagectomy for oesophageal neoplasia were divided into those treated between 2003 and 2008 to whom a clinical pathway was applied for postoperative management (group 1), and a control group treated between 1998 and 2002 when no clinical pathway was applied (group 2). RESULTS: There were 74 patients in each group. Morbidity rates were similar in the two groups: 31 per cent in group 1 and 38 per cent in group 2. There were more pulmonary complications in group 2 (23 versus 14 per cent; P = 0.025). One patient (1 per cent) in group 1 and four (5 per cent) in group 2 died after surgery (P = 0.010). The median (range) length of hospital stay was 9 (5-98) days for group 1 and 13 (8-106) days in group 2 (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Use of a written clinical pathway in patients undergoing oesophageal resection significantly reduced pulmonary complications, postoperative mortality and hospital stay.

Ineffective oesophageal motility does not affect the clinical outcome of open Nissen fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: Nissen fundoplication is considered the 'gold standard' in antireflux surgery but some surgeons employ a different surgical strategy when gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is associated with motor disorders of the oesophageal body. METHODS: Ninety-three patients undergoing surgery for GORD were divided into two groups: 52 patients (group 1) had normal oesophageal body motility and 41 (group 2) had ineffective oesophageal motility (IOM). All patients had a short Nissen fundoplication via a laparotomy. The median follow-up was 5 years in group 1 and 6.5 years in group 2. RESULTS: The clinical outcome was satisfactory in more than 90 per cent of the patients in both groups. Only one of ten patients with IOM and dysphagia before operation still had dysphagia after surgery. One patient in each group developed postoperative dysphagia. Six of 52 patients with normal motility and eight of 41 with IOM had persistent pathological acid reflux after surgery. Significant increases in contractile wave pressure and a decrease in the percentage of non-propagated waves were found in group 2 after fundoplication. CONCLUSION: Patients with IOM did not have an increased rate of dysphagia after total fundoplication compared with those with normal motility, but they did have a higher rate of recurrence of endoscopic and pH-proven reflux.

Diagnosis and treatment of oculopharyngeal dystrophy: a report of three cases from the same family.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy is a hereditary pathology transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. The clinical symptoms are palpebral ptosis, oropharyngeal dysphagia and proximal limb weakness. Upper gastro-esophageal endoscopy is recommended to study the dysphagia, a video-radiology study with barium and an esophageal manometry to study the pharyngeo-esophageal motor disorder. Muscle biopsy reveals the presence of atrophic fibers substituted by an increase in fat and connective tissue. In 1998 Brais described the genetic alteration responsible for this pathology, a limited expansion of the triplet of GCG nucleotides in PABP2 gene on chromosome 14q11. Normal individuals have the homozygotic form (GCG)6 of this triplet, whereas patients with the described syndrome have the heterozygotic form (GCG)6-(GCG)9 or (GCG)6-(GCG)10. We present three siblings from the same family with diagnoses and genetic confirmations of oculopharyngeal dystrophy. Two of the patients underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy to relieve the dysphagia.

Primary eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an uncommon pathology that generally affects children with a history of allergies and intrinsic asthma. We present a clinical case of eosinophilic esophagitis in a 16-year-old boy with upper dysphagia for solids since childhood. The analytical study showed only a repeat serum eosinophilia. Barium transit disclosed a reduction in caliber of the whole esophagus. Functional esophageal tests with pH monitoring and manometry were normal. Endoscopy showed a small-diameter esophagus and fibrosis with a very friable mucosa. The histological study of the esophageal biopsies revealed a full thickness major eosinophil infiltration of the esophagus. These findings suggest a differential diagnosis with a great variety of pathologies that can cause similar lesions in the esophagus, especially between primary eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic esophagitis secondary to gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). We implemented medical treatment with oral corticoids and total suppression of allergens from the diet, and the patient was asymptomatic.

Funduplicatura de Nissen por laparoscopia como técnica de elección para el tratamiento de la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico / Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication as the technique of choice in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introducción y objetivos. Pretendemos corroborar, mediante la aportación de nuestros resultados y la comparación de los datos manométricos y pHmétricos, pre y postoperatorios, que la funduplicatura de Nissen por vía laparoscópica es la técnica de elección para el tratamiento de la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERGE), obteniéndose resultados similares a los de la cirugía convencional. Material y métodos. Un total de 72 pacientes, intervenidos consecutivamente, afectados de ERGE, 54 varones y 18 mujeres, con una edad media de 42 años. Todos presentaban clínica de ERGE, con una media de evolución de 5 años y habían recibido tratamiento médico correcto durante una media de 24 meses. El estudio preoperatorio incluyó: esofagogastroduodenoscopia, TEGD, pHmetría de 24 h y manometría esofágica. La técnica quirúrgica practicada fue una funduplicatura de Nissen por vía laparoscópica. En el control postoperatorio se realizaron: esofagogastroduodenoscopia, pHmetría de 24 h y manometría esofágica, valorándose el grado de satisfacción mediante la escala de Visick. Los datos obtenidos se compararon estadísticamente mediante el test de la t de Student apareada y el test de Wilcoxon. Resultados. La pHmetría preoperatoria reveló una media de porcentaje de tiempo de pH < 4 del 9,85 por ciento y un índice de DeMeester de 37,4. La manometría dio unas presiones basales medias del EEI de 11,6 mmHg y una longitud media del mismo de 3,13 cm. El tiempo medio de la intervención fue de 75,4 min y las complicaciones intraoperatorias se produjeron en 11 pacientes, siendo el índice de reconversiones a cirugía abierta del 1,3 por ciento. La pHmetría postoperatoria obtuvo un índice de DeMeester medio de 6,06 y un porcentaje de tiempo de pH < 4 medio de 1,1 por ciento. La longitud media del EEI, en el estudio manométrico postoperatorio, fue de 3,5 cm y la presión basal media del mismo, de 20,9 mmHg. Al ser comparados los resultados preoperatorios con los postoperatorios, todos ellos resultaron ser estadísticamente significativos (p < 0,05).Conclusiones. Tras una experiencia de cuatro años y medio en funduplicatura de Nissen por laparoscopia, y a la vista de los resultados obtenidos, pensamos que es la técnica quirúrgica de elección para el tratamiento de la ERGE (AU)

Los inhibidores de la bomba de protones no controlan el reflujo biliar al esófago en los pacientes con esófago de Barrett / Proton pump inhibitors does not control the bile reflux into the esophagus in patients with Barrett's esophagus

El tratamiento del esófago de Barret (EB) continúa siendo motivo de controversia entre los distintos autores. Mientras unos abogan por el tratamiento médico con inhibidores de la Bomba de Protones (IBP), otros defienden la cirugía como medida terapéutica de elección. Nuestro objetivo fue cuantificar, mediante pHmetría esofágica de 24 horas y Bilitec 2000, las modificaciones que el tratamiento médico con IBP y la fundoplicatura de Nissen producen en las tasas de reflujo ácido y de contenido duodenal al esófago en pacientes con EB. Se han estudiados de forma prospectiva 20 pacientes diagnosticados de EB. Antes y después del tratamiento a todos los pacientes se les realizó una historia clínica detallada, endoscopia digestiva alta con toma múltiple de biopsias, así como una manometría esofágica, phmetría esofágica de 24 horas y monitorización durante 24 horas de la presencia de bilirrubina en el esófago mediante Bilitec 2000. Todos los pacientes presentaban antes del tratamiento tasas patológicas de reflujos ácido y de contenido duodenal al esófago. Diez pacientes fueron sometidos a tratamiento médico con 40 mg/día Omeprazol durante al menos 1 año con una mediana de 13 meses, oscilando entre 12 y 16 meses. A los otros 10 enfermos se les realizó una fundoplicatura de Nissen, con un seguimiento medio de 12 meses (rango 12-17 meses). El análisis estadístico se realizó con el test de Wilcoxon para datos apareados. Los resultados del estudio pHmétricos tras el tratamiento médico pusieron de manifiesto cómo el porcentaje mediano de tiempo con pH < 4 en el esófago se normalizó, pasando de 10,5 por ciento antes de la terapia a 0,9 por ciento después del tratamiento, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p < 0,05). Sin embargo, hay que resaltar que en 2 casos persistieron tasas patológicas de RGE ácido (9,5 por ciento y 6,1 por ciento respectivamente), a pesar de estar los pacientes asintomáticos. Al realizar el estudio con Bilitec en este grupo, observamos que la tasa de reflujos biliar diminuyó, pasando de 26 ,8 por ciento a 16,1 por ciento pero sin diferencias estadísticas, e incluso 8 de los 10 pacientes de este grupo persistieron con un RDGE patológico. Tras las cirugía, el porcentaje mediano de tiempo con pH < 4 en el esófago disminuyó significativamente (p < 0,05), pasando de 32,8 por ciento a 1,3 por ciento

[Esophageal perforations. Presentation of 23 cases]. / Perforaciones esofágicas. Presentación de 23 casos.

AIM: Esophageal perforations are the most serious perforations of the digestive tract and their treatment remains controversial. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome of patients with esophageal perforations given surgical and conservative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 23 patients with esophageal perforations, 8 cervical (35%) and 15 thoracic (65%). Medical treatment was indicated in patients who fulfilled Cameron's criteria (minimal signs of clinical sepsis; disruption contained in the mediastinum; drainage of the cavity back into the esophagus; minimal symptoms). The remaining patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: Two patients with cervical perforations (25%) met Cameron's criteria. Evolution after conservative treatment was favourable. The remaining patients (75%) were surgically treated: simple closure of the perforation was performed in four and drainage of the cervical abscess in two. Two of the patients who underwent surgery presented pleural hemorrhage, one of which was associated with pneumonia. Four patients with thoracic perforation (27%) met the criteria for conservative treatment. One presented respiratory distress syndrome during treatment and required intensive care. Evolution was favorable in all. The remaining 11 patients (73%) received surgical treatment: in five (46%) simple closure of the perforation was performed, in three (27%) bipolar exclusion was performed and in the remaining patients, other techniques were used. Morbidity was 82% (nine patients) mainly due to pneumonia and mortality was 46% (five patients). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of esophageal perforation should be individualized. Conservative treatment should be considered in patients meeting Cameron's criteria as their evolution is favorable, with low morbidity and mortality and surgery is not necessary.

24-h pH monitoring is necessary to assess acid reflux suppression in patients with Barrett's oesophagus undergoing treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Control of acid reflux is the main objective of treatment for Barrett's oesophagus. However, as these patients have a reduced sensitivity to acid reflux, disappearance of symptoms may not correlate with efficient control of acid reflux. The aim of this study was to determine in a group of patients with Barrett's oesophagus whether treatment with proton pump inhibitors suppressed pathological acid reflux once the symptoms of reflux had been controlled and the associated inflammatory lesions cured. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients with Barrett's oesophagus were studied, all of whom presented with heartburn. Twenty-four-hour oesophageal pH monitoring before treatment showed pathological acid reflux in all cases: median percentage of total time with pH less than 4, 22 (range 8-52) per cent. All patients received proton pump inhibitors (dose 20-60 mg/day) until symptoms were controlled. RESULTS: While on therapy, pH was reduced (median percentage of total time with pH less than 4, 3 versus 22 per cent; P < 0.001). However, three patients had persistent pathological rates of acid reflux. CONCLUSION: Disappearance of symptoms is not a good indicator of control of pathological acid reflux in patients with Barrett's oesophagus. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring should be performed for proper adjustment of the dose of medication.

Clinical features and investigations in patients with columnar-lined oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear why some patients with a columnar-lined oesophagus present with intestinal metaplasia and others do not. The physiopathological and clinical implications of the length of the metaplastic segment are also controversial. The aim of the study was to determine whether the length of the metaplasia and the presence of intestinal epithelium are related to the clinical, manometric and pHmetric data in patients with columnar-lined oesophagus. METHODS: A comparison of clinical, endoscopic, pathological, manometric and pHmetric data was made between patients with columnar-lined oesophagus of 3-5 cm (n=31) and those with a metaplastic segment of 5 cm or more (n=28); the same comparison was made between patients who had specialized intestinal metaplasia (n=37) and those who did not (n=22). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in any of the variables studied except for associated inflammatory lesions above the columnar epithelium which were more frequent in patients with a shorter metaplastic segment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Neither the length of the metaplastic segment nor the presence of intestinal metaplasia was related to a more evolved gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, a poorer oesophageal clearing function or higher acid reflux rates.

Gastric surgery does not increase the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus.

OBJECTIVE: Barrett's esophagus is currently believed to be related to severe and prolonged pathological acid gastroesophageal reflux. However, other factors have been discussed, especially pancreatic biliary reflux. To determine the importance of pancreatic-biliary reflux in the genesis of Barrett's esophagus, we assessed the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in patients with an intact stomach and in those with previous gastric surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective study in which 22,236 upper digestive endoscopy reports were reviewed and classified into two groups: intact stomach (n = 21,023) and operated stomach (n = 1,213). In turn, these two groups were divided into five subgroups according to surgical techniques. In each of the groups and subgroups, we calculated the percentage of patients with esophagitis, the percentage of esophagitis patients with Barrett's esophagus, and the percentage of Barrett's esophagus patients with complications. Results were compared by chi2 test. RESULTS: With regard to the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus, we found no significant differences between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that previous gastric surgery does not increase the risk that esophagitis patients will develop Barrett's esophagus.

Quantification of duodenogastric reflux in Barrett's esophagus.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess the role of reflux of duodenal contents in the genesis of Barrett's esophagus. Therefore, we performed a study to quantify duodenogastric reflux, using 99mTc-HIDA quantification in gastric juice after continuous intravenous infusion of the same. METHODS: The study contained 20 patients with Barrett's esophagus (10 uncomplicated and 10 complicated by ulcers and/or stenosis), 10 patients with peptic esophagitis without Barrett's esophagus (two grade I, four grade II, and four grade III, according to Savary-Miller), and 10 healthy volunteers who made up the control group. Comparisons were made between the groups. RESULTS: When we considered the groups overall, we observed that the 20 patients with Barrett's esophagus had higher reflux rates (p < 0.01) than either the 10 patients with peptic esophagitis without Barrett's esophagus, or the 10 controls. Complicated Barrett's esophagus presented higher reflux rates than uncomplicated Barrett's esophagus, although the differences were not statistically significant. However, on analyzing the results after considering the groups case by case, we see that the mean reflux rate in the Barrett's esophagus groups is due to five patients presenting much higher rates than the rest. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that duodenogastric reflux might be involved in the appearance of Barrett's esophagus and its related complications, although only in certain cases. The pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus is probably multifactorial, and other factors must be involved.

Conservative treatment versus antireflux surgery in Barrett's oesophagus: long-term results of a prospective study.

The results obtained for the treatment of 59 patients diagnosed with Barrett's oesophagus, randomized to receive medical treatment (n = 27) or antireflux surgery (n = 32) were assessed prospectively. Median follow-up for the patients undergoing medical treatment was 4 (range 1-11) years and for patients undergoing surgical treatment 5 (range 1-11) years. Satisfactory symptomatic control (excellent to good results) was achieved in 24 patients after medical therapy and in 29 after antireflux surgery. The proportion of patients with persistent inflammatory lesions (54 per cent) and persistent or recurrent stenosis (47 per cent) was significantly higher after conservative treatment than after surgery (5 and 15 per cent, respectively). A decrease in the length of the segment of columnar mucosa was observed in eight of the patients who underwent antireflux surgery, and in only two of those given medical therapy. Conversely, an upward progression of the columnar lining was more frequent in the latter group (11 versus three). Mild dysplasia was observed in five patients, all from the group undergoing medical treatment. Severe dysplasia was detected in two patients, one undergoing medical treatment and the other following surgical therapy, in whom an antireflux procedure had failed previously. Both patients underwent oesophageal resection, with confirmation of a carcinoma in situ. The patients in whom antireflux surgery proved effective showed no dysplastic change or progression to adenocarcinoma. These results, despite the small number of patients and methodological limitations, question the systematic conservative approach in the initial management of patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

Factors involved in the return of peristalsis in patients with achalasia of the cardia after Heller's myotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reappearance of peristalsis in a group of 45 patients with achalasia of the cardia undergoing surgery and to analyze the factors involved in this phenomenon. METHODS: According to the postoperative manometric data, the 45 patients were divided into two groups, depending on whether or not they presented a return of peristalsis. A statistical comparison of age, sex, duration of the disease, pre- and postoperative radiological diameter of the esophagus, classic or vigorous nature of the achalasia, and manometric data of the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal body was made. RESULTS: In 46.6% of the patients, peristalsis returned to the upper esophagus, and 100% of the waves were progressive; in 24.4%, peristalsis returned to the middle third also, but only 50% of the waves were progressive; and in 8.8% (four patients), peristalic activity returned to the whole esophagus, but only 40% of the waves were progressive. The group of patients with a return of peristalsis had a shorter duration of dysphagia, less preoperative dilation of the esophagus, and a greater contractile activity of the esophageal body. CONCLUSIONS: Return of peristalsis is a frequent phenomenon after myotomy in patients with achalasia of the cardia, especially in cases of short clinical evolution, little esophageal dilation, and a conserved contractile capacity, although its accurate production mechanism is unknown.

[Results of surgical treatment of esophageal cancer (209 cases)]. / Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de esófago (209 casos).

We present a series of 209 patients with cancer of the esophagus over a 13-year period. Average age was 61.99 years and 87.56% of the patients were male. As for histological type, 59.8% of cases were epidermoid carcinomas and the remaining adenocarcinomas. In 76.55% of cases tumor stage was III or IV. Operability rate was 81.8% and resectability 57.89%. The most frequent resective procedure was oesophagogastrectomy through a right thoracotomy and laparotomy. Reconstruction of digestive continuity was achieved in 86.77% with the stomach; 53.72 of resections were judged to be "radical". Overall postoperative morbidity was 45.61%. Respiratory failure and anastomotic leakage accounted for most of morbidity. Anastomotic leakage was more frequent in patients undergoing bypass, with cervical anastomosis, and when the reconstruction was performed with the colon. Mortality rate was 14.04%, but fell to 7.69% in patients undergoing "radical" resection. Overall 5-year survival was 7.83% and 11.81% in patients undergoing resection. The more relevant prognostic factor was tumour stage; 5-years survival of patients with tumor stage I-II was 27.53%, and 0% for patients with tumour stage II or IV.

Short myotomy for vigorous achalasia.

Vigorous achalasia has been considered an indication for surgery, in which a thoracic approach is recommended for extending the myotomy along the whole of the oesophageal body to the point where manometry shows high-amplitude waves. Clinical results and postoperative manometric findings in 16 patients with vigorous achalasia undergoing abdominal surgery with myotomy limited to the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) were analysed to assess whether extended myotomy is necessary in surgery for this form of achalasia. The clinical results were excellent or good in all cases. Surgery induced a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the diameter of the oesophagus as determined radiologically. The most significant postoperative manometric changes were a decrease in the resting pressure of the LOS and oesophageal body, a lowering of wave amplitude at all levels of the oesophagus, and a reduction in the proportion of repetitive waves. The results suggest that vigorous achalasia can be treated surgically in the same way as classical achalasia and question, at least from a therapeutic viewpoint, the use of the term vigorous achalasia.

Results of surgical treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

During 1979 to 1991, 125 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were admitted to our General Surgery unit. The average age was 60.1 years; 94.4 percent of the patients were male. The mean duration of symptoms was 3.65 months. The most frequent symptom was dysphagia in 97.19 percent, followed by weight loss in 64.48 percent. The most frequent location was the middle one-third in 58.4 percent. The tumor was well differentiated in 27.2 percent, moderately well differentiated in 41.6 percent and poorly differentiated in 31.2 percent. By preoperative staging, 1 patient was stage I, 24 were stage II, 86 were stage III and 14 were stage IV. The operability rate was 76 percent and the resectability rate was 48.8 percent. Resection was "curative" in 42.62 percent and palliative in 57.37 percent. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy were used only in those patients who did not undergo resection. All of the patients in whom resection was possible underwent a single-stage esophagogastrectomy. The postoperative mortality rate was 20 percent, but only 11.54 percent if we only consider those patients who underwent "curative" resection. The most frequent causes of mortality were respiratory complications and anastomotic leakage. The five year overall survival rate was 5.99 percent. In the resected group, the five year survival rate was 8.82 percent and in patients in whom resection was considered "curative," the rate was 20.86 percent.

Correlation between esophageal motility and 24-hour pH recording in patients with gastroesophageal reflux.

The relationship between manometric and pH-metric data was studied in a group of 50 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Using a multiple regression analysis, we found that the total percentage of reflux was significantly correlated to the infradiaphragmatic length and resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter and also to the mean amplitude of the contractile waves of the distal esophagus, thus revealing the important role of these factors in the antireflux mechanism. When the patients were divided into groups according to their manometric characteristics and the values of the various pH-metric parameters between these groups compared using a one-way analysis of variance, we found that the amplitude of the contractile waves and the percentage of deglutitions without response were related not only to the total percentage of reflux but also to the number of reflux episodes of greater than 5 min duration and to the duration of the longest episode. This shows that prolonged exposure of the esophageal mucosa to the refluxed material may be due, in part, to an alteration in the capacity for esophageal clearing.

Reversible achalasia-like motor pattern of esophageal body secondary to postoperative stricture of gastroesophageal junction.

Two cases are presented of benign stenosis of the cardia secondary to fibrosis following antireflux surgery in which the patients developed a motor alteration in the esophageal body similar to that of achalasia of the cardia. There was a complete absence of contractions in one patient, which had developed over a long period of time, and a vigorous pattern in the other patient, which had evolved over a short period. In both cases, after surgical treatment of the stenosis, normal motility in the esophageal body returned.