End-to-side and end-to-end anastomoses give similar results in cervical oesophagogastrostomy.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if there were any differences in healing between end-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses for oesophagogastrostomy. DESIGN: Open study with historical controls. SETTING: University hospital, The Netherlands. SUBJECTS: 28 patients with end-to-end and 90 patients with end-to-side anastomoses after transhiatal oesophagectomy and partial gastrectomy for cancer of the oesophagus or oesophagogastric junction, with gastric tube reconstruction and cervical anastomosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Leak and stricture rates, and the number of dilatations needed to relieve dysphagia. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in leak rates (end-to-end 4/28, 14%, and end-to-side 13/90, 14%) or anastomotic strictures (end-to-end 9/28, 32%, and end-to-side 26/90, 29%). The median number of dilatations needed to relieve dysphagia was 7 (1-33) after end-to-end and 9 (1-113) after end-to-side oesophagogastrostomy. CONCLUSION: There were no differences between the two methods of suture of cervical oesophagogastrostomy when leakage, stricture, and number of dilatations were used as criteria of good healing.

Psychosocial adaptation to stoma surgery: a review.

During the last decade strong improvements have been made in the medical care of patients with a digestive tract stoma, particularly with regard to nursing skills and to the quality of collecting material for faecal products. Scientific investigation into the psychosocial adjustment of patients after stoma surgery has intensified as well, giving us indications for quality of life. These developments induced a review of the actual state of affairs in psychological issues. After evaluating the results of psychosocial stoma research, it can be concluded that the technical improvements in stoma care during the past decade did not result in a decline in psychosocial problems after stoma surgery. However, there are some serious problems when interpreting the results of studies in this field of investigation. Stoma surgery is not per se solely responsible for the reported psychosocial problems, first, because many conclusions are based on research studies with poor design and, second, because these studies lack a theoretical framework within which the process of psychosocial adjustment has been measured and explained. This review assesses the most current developments and controversies in this field.

Impaired healing of cervical oesophagogastrostomies can be predicted by estimation of gastric serosal blood perfusion by laser Doppler flowmetry.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of relative blood perfusion of the gastric tube in prediction of impaired healing of cervical oesophagogastrostomies. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, The Netherlands. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients undergoing transhiatal oesophagectomy and partial gastrectomy for cancer of the oesophagus or oesophagogastric junction, with gastric tube reconstruction and cervical oesophagogastrostomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative measurement of gastric blood perfusion at four sites by laser Doppler flowmetry and perfusion of the same sites after construction of the gastric tube expressed as a percentage of preconstruction values. RESULTS: The relative perfusion at the most proximal site of the gastric tube was significantly lower than at the more distal sites (p = 0.001). Nine of 18 patients (50%) in whom the perfusion of the proximal gastric tube was less than 70% of preconstruction values developed an anastomotic stricture, compared with only 1 of 12 patients (8%) with a relative perfusion of 70% or more (p = 0.024). A reduction in perfusion of the gastric tube did not predict leakage. CONCLUSION: Impaired anastomotic healing is unlikely if relative perfusion is 70% or more of preconstruction values. Perfusion of less than 70% partly predicts the occurrence of anastomotic stricture, but leakage cannot be predicted. Factors other than blood perfusion may have a role in the process of anastomotic healing.

Incidence and management of benign anastomotic stricture after cervical oesophagogastrostomy.

Benign anastomotic stricture after transhiatal oesophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction constitutes a major problem. From August 1988 to April 1991, 81 patients were followed after cervical oesophagogastrostomy. Twenty-four patients (30 per cent) developed a benign anastomotic stricture 3-23 (median 8) weeks after operation. Poor vascularization of the gastric tube, determined during operation, and postoperative anastomotic leakage were statistically significant risk factors for stricture formation. Symptoms related to stricture were often typical and were confirmed by endoscopy and/or radiography. Radiography did not yield information additional to that obtained from endoscopy. Strictures were treated in the outpatient clinic by dilatation with Savary dilators. Repeated dilatation completely alleviated dysphagia in 20 of the 24 patients (83 per cent). In ten patients dilatations could be discontinued after a median of 8 (range 1-17) sessions. Dilatation was continued until the end of follow-up in nine patients or until death from recurrent disease in five. No complications of dilatation were seen.

[(Procto)colectomy with permanent ileostomy versus restorative proctocolectomy in ulcerative colitis; the past as background for the present]. / (Procto)colectomie met permanent ileostoma versus restauratieve proctocolectomie, bij colitis ulcerosa; het verleden als achtergrond voor het heden.

In the University Hospital of Utrecht, in order to assess the value of 'restorative' proctocolectomy, the early and late complications after 'classical' (procto)colectomy with establishment of a permanent ileal stoma were evaluated retrospectively over the period 1969-1988. The inclusion criteria were: having undergone a (procto)colectomy with establishment of an ileal stoma because of pathologico-anatomically confirmed ulcerative colitis, with follow-up in the clinic mentioned. Data on the preoperative period, on the operation and on the early and late complications were collected of 101 patients. Immediately postoperative complications were encountered in 50% of the patients. Mortality was 2% in the group as a whole and 5% after emergency surgery. Late complications occurred in 62% of the patients, and in 45% of the patients they necessitated one or several reoperations. Sources of late complications included: the rectal stump left in situ, the perineal wound area, the stoma and the formation of abdominal adhesions. Classical (procto)colectomy with establishment of a permanent ileal stoma entails a large proportion of early and late postoperative complications. It is asserted that the complications at present observed after restorative proctocolectomy must not prompt a return to classical proctocolectomy as the standard surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis.

The plain abdominal radiograph in the assessment of constipation.

To investigate the value of the plain abdominal radiograph in the assessment of constipation we prospectively studied 30 patients (20 females, 10 males, mean age 48.6 years, range 21-76 years). These patients underwent the following tests: plain abdominal radiograph in supine position, measurement of stool weight (mean of 5 days) and whole gut transit time (20 radioopaque pellets, fluoroscopy of stools). All patients completed a questionnaire regarding their defaecation characteristics (a.o. average defaecation frequency and faecal consistency). The abdominal films were coded and independently scored for the degree of faecal stasis in ascending, transverse, descending colon and rectosigmoid by four gastroenterologists. To each of these parts of the colon a score of 1 (no faeces) to 4 (loaded with faeces) was assigned. The film scores given by the four observers were significantly correlated (p less than 0.001). Significant correlations were found between the radiograph scores and frequency of defaecation, faecal consistency and stool weight. The strength of these correlations were of the same order of magnitude as those between the other subjective and objective defaecation variables. The scores for the left colon (descending colon and rectosigmoid) showed a better correlation with the other defaecation parameters than the scores for the right colon. It is concluded that in the assessment of constipation a simple plain abdominal radiograph is as reliable as measurement of faecal weight or marker transit and can thus be advocated as the first procedure. When an abdominal radiograph is used for this purpose the stasis in the descending and sigmoid colon provides most information.

Influence of salazosulphapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid on seminal qualities and male sex hormones.

Seminal abnormalities are a common side effect of salazosulphapyridine (SASP) treatment. We evaluated semen qualities and sex hormone concentrations in 11 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during SASP treatment and 4 months after replacing SASP with an oral slow-release preparation of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Significant improvement in sperm count (p less than 0.01), morphology (p less than 0.02), and motility (p less than 0.02) could be observed during 5-ASA therapy, in comparison with SASP treatment. Three pregnancies occurred during the study period. The serum concentrations of gonadotrophins, prolactin, and sex hormone-binding globulin were normal in all patients and not significantly different in the two treatment periods. The mean total testosterone concentration decreased significantly (p less than 0.02) after 5-ASA substitution, together with serum albumin (p less than 0.005), although all values remained within normal limits. The apparent free testosterone concentration was not significantly different in the two treatment periods. It is concluded that a significant improvement in semen quality can be obtained in male patients with IBD after replacing SASP with 5-ASA.

The effect of changes in dietary sodium content on complaints and clinical parameters of volume depletion in patients with a permanent ileostomy.

In seven patients with an ileostomy the volume and electrolyte composition of ileal effluent and urine were studied at the end of 7-day periods on a free diet (mean total sodium excretion 180 mmol/day) and on diets with a fixed sodium content ranging from 120 to 350 mmol/day. At the same time, complaints were scored and the plasma aldosterone concentration, renal aldosterone excretion, and ileal transmucosal potential difference were determined. On a free diet, all of the patients had one or more complaints. These tended to disappear when intake was increased. Changes in dietary sodium led to only minor changes in the volume and composition of the ileal effluent. Significant associations were found between sodium intake and complaints, the urinary sodium/potassium ratio, plasma aldosterone concentration, and aldosterone excretion. The ileal transmucosal potential difference showed the same tendency. Mean sodium intake on a free diet appeared to be suboptimal. The well-being of many ileostomists can be improved by increasing the dietary sodium intake to a level higher than 250 mmol/day.

Dermatitis herpetiformis: consequences of elemental diet.

The administration of an Elemental Diet to 5 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, requiring high doses of Dapsone (diaminodiphenylsulfone, DDS), showed a rapid and beneficial effect on the skin lesions within two weeks. This effect was not influenced by simultaneous gluten challenge in one patient. A possible explanation is a reduction in the amount of harmful immune complexes due to the elimination of proteins from the diet. Subsequent introduction of a more comprehensive diet led to an increase of the minimal effective dose of Dapsone. These results underline the importance of dietary influences on the skin activity in dermatitis herpetiformis, other than gluten alone.