• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1060-1065
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• 1994

For most surgeons, stomach and colon are the first choice for reconstruction of the esophagus, as well as for bypass. When the esophagogastric or esophagocolonic anastomosis is made in the neck, cervical anastomosis site leakage is the main complication. In our most recent four patients who underwent a transhiatal & posterior mediastinal esophagogastric or esophagocolonic anastomoses following esophageal resection, we performed the cervical anastomoses with a circular EEA stapler. No leaks have developed at the anastomosis site. In these four patients the cancer was tiny and was located on the upper or middle third of the thoracic esophagus. A total esophagectomy was performed by blunt resection without thoracotomy. Surgical staplers have been used previously for esophagogastric anastomosis through a right thoracotomy with a very low rate of leakage. When the esophagogastric or esophagocolonic anastomosis is performed in the neck, the prevalence of leakage does not increase the postoperative mortality, but it can increase significantly the duration of hospitalization and morbidity. The use of the circular stapler allowed us to perform four consecutive cervical esophagogastric & esophagocolonic anastomoses without any leakage and to shorten the operating time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) has become the standard of care for esophageal cancer patients prior to esophagectomy. However, the optimal timing for surgery after completion of nCRT remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis for esophageal cancer at a single institution between January 2000 and June 2015. Patients were categorized into 3 cohorts: those who did not receive nCRT prior to esophagectomy (no nCRT), those who underwent esophagectomy within 35 days after nCRT (${\leq}35d$), and those who underwent esophagectomy more than 35 days after nCRT (>35d). Results: A total of 366 esophagectomies were performed during the study period, and 348 patients met the inclusion criteria. Anastomotic leaks occurred in 11.8% of all patients included in the study (41 of 348). Within each cohort, anastomotic leaks were detected in 14.7% of patients (17 of 116) in the no nCRT cohort, 7.3% (13 of 177) in the ${\leq}35d$ cohort, and 20.0% (11 of 55) in the >35d cohort (p=0.020). Significant differences in the occurrence of anastomotic leaks were observed between the no nCRT and ${\leq}35d$ cohorts (p=0.044), and between the ${\leq}35d$ and >35d cohorts (p=0.007). Conclusion: Esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis within 35 days of nCRT resulted in a lower percentage of anastomotic leaks.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.152-159
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• 2024

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) following esophagectomy represents a serious complication that often results in prolonged hospitalization and necessitates repeated interventions, including nothing-by-mouth (NPO) restriction, endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT), or surgical repair. In this study, we evaluated the patterns and outcomes of AL treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at a single center between 2003 and 2020. Of 3,096 examined cases, 181 patients (5.8%) with AL were included in the study: 114 patients (63%) with cervical anastomosis (CA) and 67 (37%) with intrathoracic anastomosis (TA). Results: The incidence of AL was 11.9% in the CA and 3.2% in the TA group (p<0.001). Among patients with CA who developed AL, 87 (76.3%) were managed with NPO, 15 (13.2%) with EVT, and 12 (10.5%) with surgical repair. Over 90% of patients with cervical AL resumed an oral diet by the time of discharge, regardless of treatment method. Among patients with TA and AL, 36 (53.7%) received NPO, 25 (37.7%) underwent EVT, and 6 (9%) required surgery. Of these, 34 patients who were managed with NPO and 19 with EVT could resume an oral diet. However, only 2 patients who underwent surgery resumed an oral diet, and 2 patients required additional EVT. Conclusion: Although patients with CA displayed a higher incidence of AL, their rate of successful oral intake exceeded that of those with TA, regardless of treatment method. Among patients exhibiting AL with TA, EVT was more commonly employed than in CA cases, and it appears effective.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 1983

A clinical study was performed on 75 cases of the esophageal cancer and benign esophageal diseases experienced at Department of thoracic & cardiovascular surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University during 3 year period from 1978 to 1982. Of 75 cases of the surgical esophageal diseases, there were 35 patients of the esophageal cancer. 17 patients of benign esophageal stenosis, 10 patients of esophageal perforation, 4 patients of diverticulum. 3 patients of achalasia, 2 patients of congenital T-E fistula, one of upper esophageal web, one of esophageal foreign body, one of leiomyoma and patient of hemangioma. First, esophageal carcinoma was more frequent in men than in women by a ratio of five to one, and the peak incidence occurred in the 5th to 6th decade. Dysphagia was the most common symptom in 88.6 percent of our cases. The tumor was located mostly in the middle & the lower one third [91.4%]. The histological diagnosis was made in 35 cases. The squamous cell carcinoma was the most common [82.9%] and the rest was the adenocarcinoma in the lower one third [17.1%]. Thirty-five cases were operated and resection was feasible in the twenty-five patients [71.4%] with 2 cases of hospital mortality [5.7%]. All but two of the esophageal stenosis were caused by corrosive esophagitis and ages ranged from 7 to 70 years with average age of 32 years. Corrective operations were performed on 17 patients of esophageal stenosis of whom 12 patients had esophagocologastrostomy, 3 patients esophagogastrostomy and in non-corrosive esophageal stenosis one case and esophagoplasty and another case had release of external compression. There was one complication of stenosis of the esophageal perforation were traumatic in five cases, empyema in three cases, caustics in one case and postemetic in one case. 10 patients of the esophageal perforation underwent operation: primary closure in 5 cases, two staged colon interposition in 2, esophagogastrostomy in 1 and closed thoracotomy in 2 cases There were 2 complications of leakage of anastomosis sites in postoperative period. 4 patients of traction type of diverticulum underwent diverticulectomy & 3 patients of achalasia underwent modified Heller`s operation. 2 patients of congenital esophageal atresia had distal tracheoesophageal fistula & underwent one staged operation with the results of one death caused by pneumonia. Upper esophageal web had divulsion through the esophagoscope and foreign body in upper esophagus was removed through cervical esophagotomy. One case of leiomyoma in esophagus had esophagectomy and reconstruction with right colon. And one case of hemangioma in esophagus had esophagectomy & esophagogastrostomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.285-298
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• 1990

The records of 67 patients who had been operated as an esophageal cancer during the period from 1973 to 1989 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The results were summarized as follows ; The age ranged from 28 years old to 80 years old. The highest incidence was 5th decades, then 6th decades, and the incidence of male was 10 times as the incidence of female[M:F= 10.16: 1]. The locations were lower esophagus 44%, middle esophagus 38.8%, upper esophagus 11.9% and cervical esophagus 4.4% The frequent symptoms were dysphagia [88%], epigastric or substernal pain and discomfort [29.8%], weight loss [20.8%], and laryngeal dryness [1.4%]. The most common interval between the onset of dysphagia and admission was 2-3 months; 82% of patients was within 6 months, The cancer consisted of stage I [3%], stage II [11.9%], stage III[47.6%], and stage IV [33.7%] The resectability of cancer was 67%. The organs of substitute were stomach in 21 cases, right colon 6 cases, and jejunum in 8 CRSCS. The relation between invasion of tumor and lymph node metastasis was analyzed: mucosal involvement: 1 case/2case, muscle invasion; 0/2 full thickness; 4/6, adjacent structure 7/12. Postoperative complications were pneumonia, pleural effusion, hoarseness, mediastinitis, anastomosis site leakage, reoperation due to stenosis, chylothorax, empyema, mechanical ileus, wound infection, meat impaction at anastomosis site, and repair of gastrostomy site leakage. Adjuvant therapies were irradiation [15cases], chemotherapy [14cases], and Bougie dilatation [4 cases],

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.418-421
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• 1998

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy can be performed in esophageal diseases to reduce the postoperative complications. Recently, We encountered a case of esophageal cancer and successfully treated it by thoracoscopic esophagectomy with gastric pull-up. A 59-year-old male was presented with swallowing difficulty and an esophagogram, esophagoscopy, and chest CT showed an ulcerating tumor on the lower esophagus. The operation was performed in three stages: mobilization of the esophagus by thoracoscopic surgery, construction of a gastric tube through a laparotomy, and cervical anastomosis between the esophagus and the gastric pull-through. Hoarseness developed postoperatively, and the postoperative esophagogram showed leakage at the esophagogastric anastomotic site. The anastomotic leakage was healed following surgical drainage and the patient was discharged in good health. Hoarseness subsided spontaneously two months after surgery.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the treatment outcome for patients with locally advanced, unresectable esophageal cancer treated with relatively high dose radiation therapy(RT). Materials and Methods : From January 2000 to December 2008, 32 patients with locally advanced unresectable or medically inoperable esophageal cancer were treated with radiation therapy(RT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy. Ten patients were excluded from analysis because of distant metastasis and drop off. Patient distributions according to AJCC stages II, III IVa were 7(31.8%), 12(54.6%), 3(13.6%) respectively. The locations of tumor were cervical/upper thorax 3 (13.6%), mid thorax 13(59.1%), and lower thorax/abdominal 6(27.3%), respectively. Eleven patients received RT only, and 11 patients received cisplatin based concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT). Median radiation dose was 65 Gy(range 57.6~72 Gy). Results : The median follow-up was 9.1 months(range 1.9~43.8 months). The response rates for complete response, Partial response, stable disease and Persistent disease were 6(27.3%), 11(50.0%), 4(18.2%) and 1(4.5%), respectively. Two patients(9.1%) suffered from esophageal stenosis and stents were inserted. Two patients(9.1%) had Grade 3 radiation pneumonitis and one of them expired due to acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) at 36 days after completion of radiation therapy. The recurrence rate was 11(50.0%). The patterns of recurrence were persistent disease and local progression in 5(22.7%), local recurrence 3(13.7%) and concomitant local and distant recurrence in 3(13.7%). The overall survival(OS) rate was 32.1% at 2 years and 21.4% at 3 years(median 12.0 months). Disease free survival(DFS) rate was 17.3% at 2 and 3 years. All patients who had no dysphagia at diagnosis showed complete response after treatment and 100% OS at 3 years(p=0.0041). The OS for above 64.8 Gy group and 64.8 Gy or below group at 3 years were 60.6% and 9.1%(p=0.1341). The response to treatment was the only significant factor affecting OS(p=0.004). Conclusion : Relatively high dose radiation therapy in unresectable esophageal cancer tended to have a better outcome without increased complication rate. Further study with more patients is warranted to justify improved result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2004

Esophageal cancer is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Recently, every effort has been made to improve the long term survival, but the general prognosis for patients with this disease remains poor. In this study, we reviewed 8 years of experiences with esophageal cancer patients managed in our department at Dong-A University Hospital and evaluated the effectiveness of cervical lymph node dissection performed selectively. Material and Method: From January 1995 to August 2003, 70 patients underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in our department. Among them, 51 patients who underwent curative resection, had no double primary tumors and no neoadjuvant therapy were analyzed retrospectively. In most patients, intrathoracic esophagectomy and cervical esophago-gastrostomy was performed. Since 1997, 3-field lymph node dissection was performed selectively. Result: There were 46 men and 15 women. The median age was 60 years. The tumor was located in the upper third part in 10 patients (19%), middle third in 21 (41%), and lower third in 20 (40%). Majority of the patients (90%) had squamous cell carcinoma. Cervical anastomosis was made in 41 patients, and intrathoracic anastomosis in 10. 2-field lymph node dissection was done in 40 patients, and 3-field lymph node dissection in 11. The pathologic staging were as follows: stage I in 9 patients (17.6%), IIA in 20 (39.2%), IIIB in 7 (13.7%), III in 11 (21.6%), IVA in 2 (3.9%), and IVB in 2 (3.9%). The in-hospital mortality was 3.9% (2 patients) and complications occurred in 24 patients (47%). Overall actuarial 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates were 74.4%, 48.4%, and 48.4% including operative mortality. The 4-year survival rate did not differ significantly between 3-field lymph node dissection group (50.5%) and 2-field lymph node dissection group (48.9%). In 3-field lymph node dissection group, the respiratory complications were more frequent and operative time was significantly longer. Conclusion: We think that curative resection for esophageal cancer can be performed with acceptable mortality, and aggressive surgical approach may improve the long term survival. even for advanced stages. Effectiveness of 3-field lymph node dissection needs further investigations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.208-213
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• 2006

Background: The prevalence of anastomotic complication is related to anastomotic procedure or site in esophageal cancer operation. We studied the anastomotic leakage and stricture related to the anastomotic procedure & site in patients who received the esophageal resection and reconstruction for esophageal cancer. Material and Method: The anastomotic procedure, site and complication of 321 patients who received the esophageal reconstruction from August 1993 to May 2003 were investigated. Mean age was 64.5$\pm$4.9 (37${\~}$94) years, 300 patients ($93.5\%$) were male and 21 patients were female ($6.5\%$). Result: There were 7 anastomotic leakages ($2.2\%$) and no difference in anastomotic site (cervical anastomosis $4.1\%$, thoracic anastomosis $1.6\%$) and procedure (stapler technique $1.6\%$, semi-staple technique $9.1\%$, hand-sewn technique $0.0\%$). There were 52 anastomotic strictures ($16.2\%$), differences in sites (cervical anastomosis $2.7\%$, thoracic anastomosis $20.2\%$) (p < 0.001) and procedure (stapler technique $20.0\%$, semi-stapler technique $3.0\%$, hand-sewn technique $4.7\%$). And the stapler technique showed higher stricture rate (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Anastomotic technique was less related to anastomotic leakage in esophageal reconstruction for esophageal cancer. However, stapler technique had higher stricture rate than other techniques. Therefore, we suggest that the anastomotic technique be improved to reduce anastomotic stricture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1025-1031
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• 1995

Thirty patients who underwent esophageal resections due to esophageal carcinoma and benign strictures, and esophagovisceral anastomoses were performed by hand suture in 11 patients[Group I and by using the end to end anastomosis[EEA stapler in 19 patients[Group II . Anastomoses were performed in the thoracic cavity in 24 patients[Right 19, Left 5 and in the cervical area in 6 patients. There was one operative mortality[3.3% in a cancer patient who underwent Ivor-Lewis operation using EEA stapler. She expired on POD 38 days due to renal failure and sepsis. There were two anastomotic leakage in the sutured group and no anastomotic leakage in the stapled group. Late anastomotic strictures occurred in 10 patients[52.6% in the stapled group compared to 2 patients[18.1% in the sutured group. Most of the patients with late anastomotic strictures responded to one or two trials of TTS dilations. Using EEA stapler in performing esophagovisceral anastomosis is a safe method with acceptable range of complication rate, and total admission period after the operation for group I was 30.3 days compared to 25.4 days in group II although it had no clinical significance. The follow up was possible in 23 patients; 5 patients in group I died within mean 12.6 months and 9 patients in group II within mean 14.2 months.