Akute Mediastinitis

Acute mediastinitis, an inflammation involving the mediastinal organs and mediastinal connective tissue, requires aggressive surgical treatment. Data suggest high mortality. The vast majority of acute mediastinal infections arise either from perforation of the esophagus or from transsternal cardiac procedures. A small number of cases result from a spreading infection from the head and neck (descending necrotizing mediastinitis). An uncommon cause is iatrogenic infected mediastinitis due to other medical procedures.     

Spontaneous perforation in the ringed esophagus

A 54-year-old man presented to the ER with chest pain. He underwent an upper endoscopy revealing a large linear esophageal tear and a CT chest showed free air in the mediastinum. He was managed conservatively and was discharged 2 days later. An UGI series revealed a distal esophageal stricture. He was commenced on esomeprazole for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and his dysphagia improved significantly. Upper endoscopy revealed multiple rings throughout the esophagus. Biopsies from the distal and mid-esophagus were normal. The underlying pathophysiology, in patients with dysphagia and a ringed esophagus has evoked debate in the literature. Opinions range from underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to eosinophilic esophagitis (EE). Our patient's symptoms of GERD and dysphagia resolved with proton pump inhibitor therapy. Normal histology excluded underlying EE. There have been a few case reports of esophageal perforation in patients with a ringed esophagus, and underlying EE, but none with spontaneous perforation occurring in a 'ringed esophagus'. Perforations in the upper and mid-esophagus can usually be managed conservatively, while those in the distal esophagus often need surgery due to the high risk of developing mediastinitis. However, our patient, despite sustaining a large tear in the distal esophagus, did well with conservative management. This case demonstrates that spontaneous perforation in the ringed esophagus, with normal underlying histology can occur in the distal esophagus and may not require surgery.     

Options in the management of esophageal perforation: analysis over a 12‐year period

Controversies exist about the management of esophageal perforation in order to eliminate the septic focus. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology, management, and outcome of esophageal perforation over a 12‐year period, in order to characterize optimal treatment options in this severe disease. Between May 1996 and May 2008, 44 patients (30 men, 14 women; median age 67 years) with esophageal perforation were treated in our department. Etiology, diagnostic procedures, time interval between clinical presentation and treatment, therapeutic management, and outcome were analyzed retro‐ or prospectively for each patient. Iatrogenic injury was the most frequent cause of esophageal perforation (n= 28), followed by spontaneous (n= 9) and traumatic (n= 4) esophageal rupture (in three patients, the reasons were not determinable). Eight patients (18%) underwent conservative treatment with cessation of oral intake, antibiotics, and parenteral nutrition. Twelve (27%) patients received an endoscopic stent implantation. Surgical therapy was performed in 24 (55%) patients with suturing of the lesion in nine patients, esophagectomy with delayed reconstruction in 14 patients, and resection of the distal esophagus and gastrectomy in one patient. In case of iatrogenic perforation, conservative or interventional therapy was performed each in 50% of the patients; 89% of the patients with a Boerhaave syndrome underwent surgery. The hospital mortality rate was 6.8% (3 of 44 patients): one patient with an iatrogenic perforation after conservative treatment, and two patients after surgery (one with Boerhaave syndrome, one with iatrogenic rupture). No death occurred in the 25 patients with a diagnostic interval less than 24 hours, whereas the mortality rate in the group (n= 16 patients) with a diagnostic interval of more than 24 hours was 19% (P= 0.053). In three patients, the diagnostic interval was not determinable retrospectively. An individualized therapy depending on etiology, diagnostic delay, and septic status leads to a low mortality of esophageal perforation.     

Esophageal perforation: the importance of early diagnosis and primary repair

Esophageal perforation is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Despite the many advances in thoracic surgery, the management of patients with esophageal perforation remains controversial. We performed a retrospective clinical review of 36 patients, 15 women (41.7%) and 21 men (58.3%), treated at our hospital for esophageal perforation between 1989 and 2002. The mean age was 54.3 years (range 7-76 years). Iatrogenic causes were found in 63.9% of perforations, foreign body perforation in 16.7%, traumatic perforation in 13.9% and spontaneous rupture in 5.5%. Perforation occurred in the cervical esophagus in 12 cases, thoracic esophagus in 13 and abdominal esophagus in 11. Pain was the most common presenting symptom, occurring in 24 patients (66.7%). Dyspnea was noted in 14 patients (38.9%), fever in 12 (33.3%) and subcutaneous emphysema in 25 (69.4%). Management of esophageal perforation included primary closure in 19 (52.8%), resection in seven (19.4%) and non-surgical therapy in 10 (27.8%). The 30-day mortality was found to be 13.9%, and mean hospital stay was 24.4 days. In the surgically treated group the mortality rate was three of 26 patients (11.5%), and two of 10 patients (20%) in the conservatively managed group. Survival was significantly influenced by a delay of more than 24 h in the initiation of treatment. Primary closure within 24 h resulted in the most favorable outcome. Esophageal perforation is a life threatening condition, and any delay in diagnosis and therapy remains a major contributor to the attendant mortality.     

Current management of esophageal perforation: 20 years experience

Esophageal perforations are surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. No single strategy has been sufficient to deal with the majority of situations. We aim to postulate a therapeutic algorithm for this complication based on 20 years of experience and also on data from published literature. We performed a retrospective clinical review of 44 patients treated for esophageal perforation at our hospital between January 1989 and May 2008. We reviewed the characteristics of these patients, including age, gender, accompanying diseases, etiology of perforation, diagnosis, location, time interval between perforation and diagnosis, treatment of the perforation, morbidity, hospital mortality, and duration of hospitalization. Perforation occurred in the cervical esophagus in 14 patients (31.8%), thoracic esophagus in 18 patients (40.9%), and abdominal esophagus in 12 patients (27.3%). Management of the esophageal perforation included primary closure in 23 patients (52.3%), resection in 7 patients (15.9%), and nonsurgical therapy in 14 patients (31.8%). In the surgically treated group, the mortality rate was 3 of 30 patients (10%), and 2 of 14 patients (14.3%) in the conservatively managed group. Four of the 14 nonsurgical patients were inserted with covered self-expandable stents. The specific treatment of an esophageal perforation should be selected according to each individual patient. To date, the most effective treatment would appear to be operative management. With improvements in endoscopic procedures, the morbidity and mortality rates of esophageal perforations are significantly decreased. We suggest that minimally invasive techniques for the repair of esophageal perforations will be very important in the future treatment of this condition.     

肺癌累及食管的外科治疗(附18例报告)

目的 探讨肺癌累及食管的外科治疗的可行性。方法 对18例肺癌累及食管的患者施行手术治疗，14例手术切除肺肿瘤及扩大切除部分食管，其中7例仅切除局部受累的食管肌层，5例行受累段食管切除、胃食管吻合术，2例切除大部受累肌层，部分肿瘤残留；4例病人单纯探查。患者术前、后辅助化或(和)放疗。结果 该组无手术死亡。14例切除组患者1年生存率可达78．6％。9例正在随访中，最长者为34个月，单纯探查组无1例生存过1年。结论 肺癌单纯累及食管者，经术前辅助化疗后，手术切除肺及受累食管是可行的，大部分患者的近期效果理想，远期效果仍在观察。     

Spontaneous candida mediastinitis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided, fine-needle aspiration

Candida mediastinitis is a rare clinical entity associated with high mortality and morbidity. It is emerging as an important clinical entity, probably due to increased recognition of candida as a significant pathogen in mediastinitis. Candida mediastinitis is usually associated with cardiothoracic surgery, esophageal perforation, and head and neck infections. Optimal therapy for candida mediastinitis remains undefined. Aggressive, combined surgical debridement and antifungal therapy appears to be the most effective of available therapies. We report a case of spontaneous candida mediastinitis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided, fine-needle aspiration and successfully treated with oral antifungal therapy alone.     

predictors for failure of stent treatment for benign esophageal perforations- a single center 10-year experience

AIM:To investigate possible predictors for failed selfexpandable metallic stent(SEMS)therapy in consecutive patients with benign esophageal perforationrupture(EPR).METHODS:All patients between 2003-2013 treated for EPR at the Karolinska University Hospital,a tertiary referral center,were studied with regard to initial management with SEMS.Patients with malignancy as an underlying cause and those with anastomotic leakages were excluded.Sealing of the perforation with a covered SEMS was the primary strategy whenever feasible.Stent therapy failure was defined as a radical change of treatment strategy due to uncontrolled mediastinitis,which in this setting consisted of emergency esophagectomy with end-esophagostomy or death as a consequence of the perforation and subsequent uncontrolled sepsis.Patient and lesion characteristics were analyzed and are presented as median and interquartile range.Possible predictors for failed stent therapy were analyzed with uni-variate logistic regression,while variables with P<0.2 were further analyzed with multi-variate logistic regression.RESULTS:Of the total number of 48 patients presenting with EPR,40 patients(83.3%)were treated with SEMS at the time of admission,with an intention to heal the perforation.Twenty-three patients had Boerhaave’s syndrome(58%),16 had an iatrogenic perforation(40%)and 1 had external trauma to the esophagus(3%).The total in-hospital mortality,including the cases that had other initial treatments(n=8),was10.4%and 7.5%among those who were subjected to the SEMS-based strategy.In 33 of the 40 patients(82.5%)who were treated with stent,the EPR healed without further change in treatment strategy.Patients classified as treatment success received a SEMS at a median time of 1(1-1)d after the actual EPR,compared to 3(1-10)d among those where the initial treatment failed,P=0.039 in uni-variate analysis and P=0.052 in multi-variate analysis.No other significant factors emerged,indicating an increased risk for failure.Six of 7 patients,where stent treatment of the defect failed,underwent an emergency esophagectomy with end esophagostomy and one patient died.CONCLUSION:SEMS as an upfront therapeutic strategy seems to be a successful concept,when applied to an unselected group of patients with EPR.     

Complete endoscopic closure of gastric perforation induced by endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer using endoclips can prevent surgery (with video)

BACKGROUND: When gastric perforation occurs during endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer, a surgical treatment generally is performed. Considering the increasing number of EMRs and the possibility of perforation, our research sought to investigate whether endoscopic treatment for gastric perforation is possible. METHODS: From 1987 to 2004, 121 of 2460 patients who underwent gastric EMR at the National Cancer Center Hospital had gastric perforation during EMR (4.9%). The initial 4 patients were treated with emergent surgery. The subsequent 117 patients who were treated with endoclips formed our study population. RESULTS: Endoscopic closure with endoclips in 115 patients (98.3%) was successful. Two patients with unsuccessful endoscopic closure underwent emergent surgery. In the past 6 years, patients with perforation during gastric EMR treated with endoscopic closure had a recovery rate similar to that of the nonperforation cases. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric perforation during endoscopic resection can be conservatively treated by complete endoscopic closure with endoclips.     

Oat-cell carcinoma of the esophagus: presentation of two cases and literature review]

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to contribute an updated view on a condition as rare as oat-cell carcinoma of the esophagus by reviewing the literature and reporting two recent patients seen in our department. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study with a review of all medical records of patients seen in our ward and diagnosed with esophageal neoplasm for 6 years (January 2000 to December 2006). RESULTS: 249 cases of esophageal neoplasms were found, of them 106 were of squamous ancestry (42.6%), 141 were adenocarcinomas (56.6%), and 2 were oat-cell carcinomas (0.8%). Only in 45 (18%) was surgical resection feasible, 23 underwent palliative surgery (endoprostheses, gastrostomies, and jejunostomies not included) (9.3%), and the rest (181 cases, 72.7%) received derivative surgery or no surgery at all. CONCLUSIONS: We can affirm that this neoplasm is highly aggressive, displaying in practically all cases dissemination to other sites; this is a rare cancer that mainly affects men and whose clinical picture is similar to that of other malignancies involving the esophagus.     

Diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder perforation

INTRODUCTION Gallbladder perforation (GBP) is a rare but life threatening complication of acute cholecystitis. Sometimes GBP may not be different from uncomplicated acute cholecystitis with high morbidity and mortality rates because of delay in diagnosis[…     

Surgery in (pre)malignant celiac disease

AIM: To report the outcome of surgery in patients with (pre)malignant conditions of celiac disease (CD) and the impact on survival.METHODS: A total of 40 patients with (pre)malignant conditions of CD, ulcerative jejunitis (n = 5) and enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) (n = 35), who underwent surgery between 2002 and 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Data on indications, operative procedure, post-operative morbidity and mortality, adjuvant therapy and overall survival (OS) were collected. Eleven patients with EATL who underwent chemotherapy without resection were included as a control group for survival analysis. Patients were followed-up every three months during the first year and at 6-mo intervals thereafter.RESULTS: Mean age at resection was 62 years. The majority of patients (63%) underwent elective laparotomy. Functional stenosis (n = 13) and perforation (n = 12) were the major indications for surgery. In 70% of patients radical resection was performed. Early postoperative complications, mainly due to leakage or sepsis, occurred in 14/40 (35%) of patients. Eight patients required reoperation. More patients who underwent resection in the acute setting (n = 3, 20%) died compared to patients treated in the elective setting. With a median follow-up of 20 mo, seven patients (18%) required reoperation due to long-term complications. Significantly more patients who underwent acute surgery could not be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who first underwent surgical resection showed significantly better OS than patients who received chemotherapy without resection.CONCLUSION: Although the complication rate is high, the preferred first step of treatment in (pre)malignant CD consists of local resection as early as possible to improve survival.     

Large bowel perforation: morbidity and mortality

Perforations of large bowel are rare but severe complications, mainly of colorectal cancer and colonic diverticulitis. The choice of the surgical procedure is still debated. We retrospectively studied peritonitis caused by large bowel perforation to assess predictors of mortality and safety of primary resection and anastomosis. We investigated 59 patients with large bowel perforation treated surgically as emergency cases: 18 patients underwent primary resection and anastomosis, 36 had primary resection of the diseased part of bowel without anastomosis, and 5 patients had non-resective procedures. The severity of peritonitis was assessed using Hinchey's classification and the Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI). Overall mortality was 16.9%. MPI score was significantly lower for survivors vs. non-survivors, and for patients with resection and anastomosis vs. those who underwent resection without anastomosis (p<0.001). The mortality rate was 11.1% for primary resection with anastomosis, and 22.2% for primary resection without anastomosis. No patient with MPI less than 25 died, while 10 (38.5%) of the patients with MPI of 26–36 died. In conclusion, a radical aggressive approach is recommended for most patients with large bowel perforation. Mortality and morbidity are closely related to the extent of intraperitoneal infection and the incidence of postoperative complications is higher in patients with perforation due to non-malignant causes. Received: 20 September 2002 / Accepted: 30 October 2002     

External duodenal fistula following closure of duodenal perforation.

AIM: Retrospective analysis of experience with management of external duodenal fistula (EDF) without using total parenteral nutrition (TPN). METHOD: Medical records of 31 patients with EDF following closure of duodenal ulcer perforation, treated over a 7-year period (1994-2001), were studied. Twenty-one patients (68%) had evidence of sepsis at presentation or during the course of treatment. None could afford TPN for optimum time. All patients received hospital-based enteral nutrition through nasojejunal tube, besides supportive medical treatment and/or surgery. Peritonitis or failure to insert nasojejunal tube for enteric alimentation led to early surgery. RESULTS: Two patients died of septicemia and multi-organ failure within 48 hours of admission. Fourteen patients (48.3%) initially received conservative treatment (Group I); six of them later required surgery. Fifteen patients (51.7%) underwent early surgery due to peritonitis (n=9) or failure to establish enteral feeding (n=6) (Group II); wound infection, intra-abdominal abscess and septicemia were more common in these patients than those in Group I. Survival rate was higher in Group I than in Group II (86% versus 40%; p< 0.05). Septicemia and gastrectomy were the independent factors associated with high mortality. CONCLUSIONS: EDF can be satisfactorily managed without TPN. Successful placement of enteral feeding line, supportive treatment and delayed surgery can achieve survival in 85% of patients. Minimum intervention is recommended when early surgery is performed in peritonitis or to establish enteral feeding line.     

Management of patients with stercoral perforation of the sigmoid colon： Report of five cases

To our knowledge,stercoral perforation of the colonis rarely seen with fewer than 90 cases reported inthe literature till date.We explored the principles ofmanagement to prevent impending mortality in fivepatients with this condition.Five patients,two malesand three females,whose median age was 64 years,had sustained stercoral perforation of the sigmoid colon.Chronic constipation was the common symptom amongthese patients.Three patients underwent a Hartmann'sprocedure and another two were treated with segmentalcolectomy with anastomosis and diverting colostomy.There was one surgical mortality and the other patientshad an uneventful hospital stay.Timely intervention toprevent and/or treat any associated sepsis along withextensive peritoneal lavage and surgical intervention toremove diseased colonic tissue at the primary stercoralulceration site coupled with aggressive therapy for peri-tonitis are key treatment modalities in salvaging patientspresenting with stercoral perforation of the colon.     

内镜电凝加PPI治疗岛型及舌型SSBE疗效观察

目的观察内镜下高频电凝加PPI治疗岛型及舌型SSBE的近中期疗效及安全性。方法经内镜及病理检查确诊的岛型及舌型SSBE病例39例,随机及自愿结合分组。23例治疗组患者在内镜下对岛型及舌型SSBE病灶施行高频电凝治疗,同时口服雷贝拉唑,20mg,bid,疗程4周。16例对照组患者则单纯予雷贝拉唑口服,20mg,bid,持续抑酸治疗。分别于治疗后第3个月、6个月、12个月、18个月及24个月行胃镜随访,对照原内镜图片,观察各组岛型及舌型SSBE病灶的变化,并在原病灶处取活组织检查其病理改变。对治疗组中复查内镜未达显效者,再次行镜下电凝治疗并予雷贝拉唑口服,20mg,bid,疗程4周。结果治疗组随访病例平均显效率87.6%,总有效率100%;未出现出血、穿孔及食管狭窄等并发症。对照组平均显效率6.6%,平均总有效率26.5%,平均无效率73.5%。结论经内镜下高频电凝加PPI治疗岛型及舌型SSBE安全,近期疗效明显。     

Surgical approach for patients with unstable angina pectoris: role of the response to initial medical therapy and intraaortic balloon pumping in perioperative complications after aortocoronary bypass grafting.

The role of the response to initial medical therapy and intraaortic balloon pumping in perioperative complications was evaluated in 194 consecutive patients with unstable angina pectoris who underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary surgery from July 1975 through December 1977. Sixty-four patients (33 percent) responded to medical therapy within 48 hours after the initiation of full medical therapy in the coronary care unit and underwent elective cardiac catheterization and coronary surgery; 130 patients (67 percent) did not respond to medical therapy. Of these 130 patients, 75 (58 percent) received the preoperative assistance of an intraaortic balloon pump and underwent emergency cardiac catheterization and surgery. Fifty-five patients (42 percent) of the medical non-responders were not treated with an intraaortic pump and underwent emergency cardiac catheterization and surgery. Chi square analysis revealed that the clinical characteristics of the patients in all three groups were similar.The overall rate of operative mortality was 6.1 percent. Medical responders had no operative mortality, medical nonresponders with intraaortic balloon pumping had an operative mortality rate of 5.3 percent and medical nonresponders without balloon pumping a rate of 14.5 percent. The overall incidence rate of perioperative myocardial infarction was 13 percent; it was 6 percent in medical responders, 6.6 percent in nonresponders with intraaortic balloon pumping and 29 percent in non-responders without intraaortic balloon pumping. Thus, this study suggests that perioperative complications can be minimized by initial aggressive medical therapy. If this therapy fails, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation can produce a reduction in perioperative complications similar to that produced by medical therapy.     

Use of large-diameter metallic stents to seal traumatic nonmalignant perforations of the esophagus

BACKGROUND: Surgery for traumatic, non-malignant perforation of the esophagus in patients presenting more than 24 hours after its occurrence carries a high morbidity and mortality. Covered metallic stents have been used to effectively seal perforations in individual patients with Boerhaave's syndrome. METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients presented with esophageal perforation that was caused by Boerhaave's syndrome (n = 5), resection of an epiphrenic diverticulum (n = 2), rigid esophagoscopy (n = 2), extended gastric resection (n = 1), or pneumatic dilation for achalasia (n = 1). A large diameter Flamingo Wallstent (proximal/distal diameters, 30/20 mm) (7 patients) or a large diameter Ultraflex stent (proximal/distal diameters, 28/23 mm) (4 patients) was placed. Pleural cavities were drained with thoracostomy drains, and antibiotics were administered. RESULTS: The median time from perforation to stent insertion was 60 hours (range, 24 hours to 28 days). The perforation was totally sealed in 10 of 11 patients. Two patients underwent esophageal resection because of incomplete sealing of the perforation or incomplete drainage of the pleural cavity and mediastinum. The other 9 patients recovered uneventfully and resumed a normal diet within 7 to 18 days. In 7 patients, the stents were retrieved endoscopically after a median of 7 weeks (range, 6 to 14 weeks), whereas two patients refused to have the stent retrieved (in one, the stent migrated into the stomach; the other patient died 6 months after stent placement from an unrelated cause). CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic perforation of the esophagus can be treated successfully with large diameter metallic stents, together with adequate drainage of the thoracic cavity.     

Laparoscopic versus open surgical closure of perforated duodenal ulcers: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic closure of duodenal ulcer perforation may be an alternative to open surgery due to lower morbidity. Most published series have used omental plug for laparoscopic closure. We performed simple closure of the perforation laparoscopically and compared the results with those obtained by open surgery. METHODS: Of 77 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcer perforation 10 were excluded due to their high risk for laparoscopic surgery. 34 (age 18-61 years; one woman) were treated by laparoscopic surgery while 33 (age 23-63 years; two women) underwent laparotomy. Closure of the perforation was achieved by suturing the edges of the perforation. RESULTS: 27 patients had successful closure of perforation by laparoscopy; one had sealed perforation and did not need closure. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 6 patients (17.8%). Median operating time was 50 minutes (range 25 to 120) and median hospital stay was 4 days (range 4 to 6) for laparoscopy. There was no postoperative leak. Corresponding figures for open surgery were 55 minutes (45 to 75) and 9 days (7 to 13). Patients in the laparoscopy group returned early to work (median 13 days, range 10 to 15 days postoperatively) as against 26 days (21 to 35) in the open surgery group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic closure of duodenal ulcer perforation is safe and effective. It is a better method of treating duodenal ulcer perforation when the patient's condition allows pneumoperitoneum and laparoscopy.     

Combined endovascular and surgical treatment of primary aortoesophageal fistula

Primary aortoesophageal fistula is a rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Conservative treatment of aortoesophageal fistula results in a 60% in-hospital mortality rate with no late survival, and conventional surgical treatment has a reported in-hospital mortality rate that approaches 40%. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is an innovative and less invasive technique for the treatment of aortoesophageal fistula. It enables the rapid control of aortic bleeding and prevents fatal early exsanguination. However, the technique does not repair the esophagus, and there remains a substantial risk of mediastinitis and infection of the stent-graft. Herein, we report the cases of 2 patients in whom we used a combined treatment: thoracic endovascular aortic repair and delayed surgical repair of the esophagus. The esophageal repair involved direct suture of the esophageal wall and reinforcement with an intercostal muscle flap. Early follow-up evaluations suggest that our treatment of both patients was successful. We discuss the advantages and limitations of our technical choices and briefly review the pertinent medical literature.