An Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Designed to Minimize Anastomotic Complications and Optimize Conduit Function.

We describe a novel esophagogastric anastomotic technique ("side-to-side: staple line-on-staple line", STS) for intrathoracic anastomoses designed to create a large diameter anastomosis while simultaneously maintaining conduit blood supply. This technique aims to minimize the incidence of anastomotic leaks and strictures, which is a frequent source of morbidity and occasional mortality after esophagectomy. We analyze the results of this STS technique on 368 patients and compared outcomes to 112 patients who underwent esophagogastric anastomoses using an end-to-end stapler (EEA) over an 8-year time interval at our institution. The STS technique involves aligning the remaining intrathoracic esophagus over the tip of the lesser curve staple line of a stomach tube, created as a replacement conduit for the esophagus. A linear stapling device cuts through and restaples the conduit staple line to the lateral wall of the esophagus in a side-to-side fashion. The open common lumen is then closed in two layers of sutures. There was a total of 12 (3.8%) anastomotic leaks in patients who underwent STS esophagogastric anastomosis. Two of eight patients (25%) had anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy for end-stage achalasia as compared to a 2.8% leak rate (10/336) after esophagectomy for other conditions. Eighteen (5.2%) patients required a median of 2 dilatations for anastomotic stricture after STS anastomosis. Supplemental jejunostomy feedings were required in only 11.1% of patients undergoing STS anastomoses following hospital discharge. In contrast, patients undergoing EEA anastomoses demonstrated anastomotic leak and stricture rates of 16.1% and 14.3% respectively (p<0.01). Time analysis of postoperative contrast studies following the STS technique typically demonstrated a straight/uniform diameter conduit with essentially complete contrast emptying into the small bowel within 3 minutes in 88.4% of patients. The incidence of esophagogastric anastomotic leaks and strictures were extremely low using this novel anastomotic technique. Additionally we believe that based on time and qualitative analyses of postoperative contrast studies, this technique appears to optimize postoperative upper gastrointestinal tract function; however, further comparative studies are needed.

The Influence of Airway Closure Technique for Right Pneumonectomy on Wall Tension During Positive Pressure Ventilation: An Experimental Study.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality after right pneumonectomy (RPN). Postoperative mechanical ventilation represents a primary risk factor for BPF. We undertook an experiment to determine the influence of airway diameter on suture line tension during mechanical ventilation after RPN. RPN was performed in 6 fresh human adult cadavers. After initial standard bronchial stump closure (BSC), the airway suture lines were subjected to 5 cm H2O incremental increases in airway pressures beginning at 5-40 cm H2O. To minimize airway diameter, a carinal resection was then performed with trachea to left main bronchial anastomosis and the airway suture lines subjected to similar incremental airway pressures. Wall tension (N/m) at the suture lines was measured using piezoresistive sensors at each pressure point. As delivered airway pressure increased, there was a concomitant increase in wall tension after BSC and carinal resection. At every point of incremental positive pressure, wall tension was however significantly lower after carinal resection when compared to BSC (P < 0.05). Additionally the differences in airway tension became even more significant with higher delivered airway pressure (P < 0.001). Airway diverticulum after BSC leads to significantly increased tension on the bronchial closure with positive airway pressure as compared to a closure which minimize airway diameter after RPN. This supports the role of Laplacian Law where small increases in airway diameter result in significant increases on closure site tension. Techniques which reduce airway diameter at the airway closure will more reliably reduce the incidence of BPF following RPN.

Outcomes of a novel intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic technique.

OBJECTIVES: Anastomotic complications represent a significant source of morbidity and occasionally mortality after esophagectomy. Since 2009, we have used a novel "side-to-side: staple line-on-staple line" (STS) technique for intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomoses, designed to create a wide-diameter esophagogastric anastomosis while preserving stomach conduit blood supply. In this study, we describe the technique and review outcomes of our institution's initial 6-year experience. METHODS: An institutional database query identified 278 consecutive patients who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy using an STS esophagogastric anastomotic technique from 2009 through 2015. A retrospective review was conducted to assess outcomes with a focus on anastomotic complications. RESULTS: There were a total of 8 (2.9%) anastomotic leaks in patients who underwent STS esophagogastric anastomosis, 3 of which were grade I/II leaks and required no intervention. There was a leak rate of 6.3% (2 of 32) after esophagectomy for benign conditions (both leaks occurring in 8 total patients (25%) who received surgery for end-stage achalasia) compared with a 2.4% leak rate (6 of 246) in whom esophagectomy was performed for malignancy (P = .22). Fourteen patients (5.0%) required a median of 2 dilatations for anastomotic stricture after STS anastomosis. Supplemental jejunostomy feedings were required in only 11.1% of these patients after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this novel STS technique provides excellent results with respect to the incidence of intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic leak and stricture after esophagectomy. Additionally this technique has significantly reduced the need for enteral feeding after hospital discharge.