Clinical and endoscopic predictors for intraprocedural mucosal injury during per-oral endoscopic myotomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mucosal injury (MI) is one of the most common perioperative adverse events of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Severe undertreated MI may lead to contamination of the tunnel and even mediastinitis. This study explored the characteristics, predictors, and management approaches of intraoperative MI. METHODS: A retrospective review of the prospectively collected database at a large tertiary referral endoscopy unit was conducted for all patients undergoing POEM between August 2010 and March 2016. MI was graded according to the difficulty of repair (I, easy to repair; II, difficult to repair). The primary outcomes were the incidence and predictors of intraoperative MI. Secondary outcomes were MI details and the corresponding treatment. RESULTS: POEM was successfully performed in 1912 patients. A total of 338 patients experienced 387 MIs, for an overall frequency of 17.7% (338/1912). Type II MI was rare, with a frequency of 1.7% (39/1912). Major adverse events were more common in patients with MI than in those without MI (6.2% vs 2.5%, P < .001). On multivariable analysis, MI was independently associated with previous Heller myotomy (odds ratio [OR], 2.094; P = .026), previous POEM (OR, 2.441; P = .033), submucosal fibrosis (OR, 4.530; P < .001), mucosal edema (OR, 1.834; P = .001), and tunnel length ≥13 cm (OR, 2.699; P < .001). Previous POEM (OR, 5.005; P = .030) and submucosal fibrosis (OR, 12.074; P < .001) were significant predictors of type II MI. POEM experience >1 year was a protective factor for MI (OR, .614; P = .042) and type II MI (OR, .297; P = .042). CONCLUSIONS: MI during POEM is common, but type II injury is rare. Previous POEM and submucosal fibrosis were significant predictors of type II mucosal injury. POEM experience after the learning curve reduces the risk of MI.

Severe and fatal complications after ERCP: analysis of 2555 procedures in a single experienced center.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The majority of recent large series on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) complications have been multicenter studies reflecting varying degrees of experience and ERCP volume; major ERCP complications are associated with low case volume. The aim of this study was to report and analyze the frequency of severe and fatal complications associated with ERCP at a single specialized surgical high-volume referral center (Turku University Central Hospital). METHODS: All scheduled ERCP procedures (n = 2788) at our unit between January 1997 and December 2005 were included and the procedure-related severe and fatal complications were assessed by retrospective chart review. Complications were classified as severe or fatal according to standardized guidelines. RESULTS: The number of ERCP procedures performed was 2555, of which 71% were therapeutic and 29% were diagnostic. Seventeen (0.8%) severe complications were identified in 16 patients, of whom 15 underwent a therapeutic endoscopic procedure. Of the 17 severe complications, perforation constituted five cases (0.2%), pancreatitis occurred in five patients (0.2%), bleeding in five cases (0.2%), and two patients suffered from purulent cholangitis (0.1%). Procedure-related mortality was 0.08% (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: In our study the rate of severe or fatal complications of ERCP is low in experienced hands at a high-volume center, comparing favorably to corresponding complication rates of multicenter series, which further supports the importance of centralizing ERCP procedures in high-volume advanced centers.

Prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles en el manejo de la obstrucción maligna del tracto digestivo superior: experincia local / Self-expandable metallic stents in the management of malignant obstruction of the upper digestive tract: experiences local

La inserción de Endoprótesis en el tracto Gastrointestinal es usada primariamente para obstrucciones malignas. Este grupo de pacientes incluye aquellos que no son candidatos a Cirugía o con enfermedad recurrente después de cirugía o tratamiento radiante por cáncer esofágico o gastroesofágico. Estos pacientes se presentan con disfagia, odinofagia o síntomas pulmonares los cuales pueden ser consecuencia de aspiración o fístula traqueo-esofágica. También las endoprótesis pueden ser usadas para paliación de obstrucciones malignas que comprometen el vaciamiento gástrico en pacientes considerados pobres candidatos a Cirugía, usualmente como consecuencia de tumores pancreático-biliares avanzados u ocasionalmente en pacientes con neoplasias primarias gástricas o duodenales. En este trabajo presentamos un total de 28 casos de pacientes en los que se han colocado endoprótesis autoexpandibles por patología maligna del tracto digestivo superior. De estos, 18 casos corresponden a tumores de esófago medio-distal, 7 tumores de cardias, 1 tumor de p¡loro, 1 tumor de duodeno y un caso de estenosis esofágica posteriormente a tratamiento radiante de un cáncer de esófago medio. El rango de edad de estos pacientes osciló entre 48 y 84 años, con un promedio de 62 años. El tiempo de sobrevida osciló entre 3 y 7 meses. Se presentaron dos complicaciones: en un caso hubo migración proximal de la prótesis y en el otro caso hubo una falsa vía a través del tumor presentando como complicación una hernia diafragmática. Este caso fue llevado a Cirugia.

[Esophageal and cardial risk of treating gastroesophageal reflux by laparoscopic surgery]. / Le risque oesocardiotubérositaire de la cure de reflux gastro-oesophagien par chirurgie coelioscopique.

A qualitative study of risk was performed on 4 forensic files and on accidents published in the literature (1,609 cases). The surgeon may be charged with the responsibility of specific complications involving the oeso-cardial-tuberosity junction including perforation of the esophagus (13 cases), perforation of the stomach (8 cases) and necrosis of the Nissen valve by ischemia after section of the short vessels of the lesser curvature (2 cases). Sudden migration into the mediastinum or the left pleural space may occur after laparoscopic surgery (23 cases). As for all surgery, it is the surgeon's responsibility to provide adequate means for the indicated procedure and to perform the operation and follow-up. Since this is a new technique, the severity of judgements increases with the notion of special risk and aggravated risk.

Laparoscopic Heller cardiomyotomy with intraoperative manometry in the management of oesophageal achalasia.

Results of an ongoing clinical study treating achalasia patients with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor anterior fundoplication are presented. 18 patients underwent surgery between August 1991 and July 1995. Completeness of myotomies and calibration of fundoplications were measured using intraoperative manometry. Only one intraoperative complication, a perforation of the mucosa sutured laparoscopically, was encountered. There were no surgical mortalities nor postoperative morbidities. Mean hospital stay was 3.4 days. Complete relief of dysphagia and modifications of radiological and manometric patterns were achieved in all patients. All patients remain asymptomatic at 2 to 48 months from surgery. These results compare favourably with those of traditional surgery and of pneumatic dilatation.

[Selection of the method of operation on the stomach in the complex treatment of esophageal and gastric burns]. / Vybor metoda operatsii na zheludke v kompleksnom lechenii ozhoga pishchevoda i zheludka.

The results of treatment of 317 patients with concurrent burn of the esophagus and stomach are generalized. Various restorative operations were carried out in 214 of them. The pyloroplasty-type plasty with local tissues was performed in short strictures of the pylorus, cardioesophageal junction, duodenum, and the initial portion of the small intestine. Resection of the stomach after Billroth I was conducted in cicatricial affection of the distal part of the stomach. The Billroth II operation or gastroenterostomy is indicated in subtotal burn and combined cicatricial stenosis of the stomach and duodenum. Enterostomy with subsequent restorative operation is indicated in total burn of the stomach. Preoperative management with consideration for the operative risk, elaboration of a rational therapeutic tactics and improvement of operative techniques with the use of laser and microsurgical techniques facilitated a decrease in the number of complications and in the mortality rate.

[Reconstructive surgery of the esophagus in patients with combined chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach]. / Vosstanovitel'nye operatsii na pishchevode u bol'nykh s sochetannymi khimicheskimi ozhogami pishchevoda i zheludka.

The article generalizes the experience in the treatment of 317 patients with burns of the esophagus and stomach, 140 of them underwent restorative operations on the esophagus. The indications for the choice of the restorative operations are determined by the character of the burn and the condition of the patient's organism before the accident. Retrosternal plastics of the esophagus with the colon is the operation of choice in this group of patients. The elaboration of rational therapeutic tactics, improvement of preoperative management, and the introduction of effective methods of treatment into practice with the use of microsurgical and laser techniques improved considerably the results of restorative operations on the esophagus in patients with combined burn pathology.