Endoscopic treatment of mediastinal anastomotic leaks

BACKGROUND: Surgery, as well as conservative treatment, in patients with clinically apparent intrathoracic anastomotic leaks are often associated with poor results and carry a high morbidity and mortality. This report describes our results with the endoscopic treatment of intrathoracic anastomotic leakages. PATIENTS: 27 consecutive patients presenting with clinically apparent intrathoracic anastomotic leak, caused by resection of an epiphrenic diverticulum (n=1), esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (n=19), limited resection for carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (n=1) or gastrectomy for gastric cancer (n=6) were endoscopically treated. The extent of the dehiscences ranged from about 10-70%. After endoscopic lavage and debridement of the leakage (mean duration: 16,8 days) the leaks were closed with fibrin clue (n=9) or endoclips (n=2) in cases of smaller leaks or by stent placement (n=11), stent placement after unsuccessful fibrin clue injections (n=3) or stent placement and endoclipping (n=1) in patients with a large leakage. Simultaneously the periesophageal mediastinum was drained by chest drains. RESULTS: 25 of 27 patients were successfully treated endoscopically. Under endoscopic treatment one patient died due to septic multiorgan failure. Another patient developed a refractory, persistent leak. Procedure related complications (stent migration, anastomotic stenosis) were obtained in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: An endoscopic approach is successful and safe to treat symptomatic intrathoracic anastomotic leaks smaller than 70% of the circumference. An endoscopic lavage and debridement of the leak, prior to leak closure, seems to be helpful to reduce mediastinal and pleural inflammation. In patients with smaller leaks (<30%) fibrin clue injections and endoclipping is recommended. Patients with a dehiscence from 30-70% of the circumference profit from stent placement.     

Surgical treatment of anastomotic leaks after oesophagectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum management of anastomotic leaks after oesophagectomy. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective review of 23 patients who developed anastomotic leakage, out of 389 patients undergoing oesophagectomy with gastric interposition. The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the leaks, and patient outcomes are analysed. RESULTS: Leaks occurred from 3 to 23 (median=7.5) days after surgery. Clinical features included fever (57%), leucocytosis (52%), dysphagia (4%), coughing bile (4%), wound infection (13%), pneumothorax (35%), pleural effusion (70%) and septicaemia (70%). All but one leak was due to variable degree of gastric tip necrosis. Contrast swallow showed leakage in only 14 (61%) patients, whereas oesophagoscopy confirmed all the leaks. Surgical treatment (resection of necrotic stomach and either immediate or staged re-anastomosis, or end-oesophageal exteriorisation) was the primary treatment in 17 patients of whom 15 survived to discharge. Two out of the 6 patients treated non-surgically died. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of anastomotic leakage after oesophagectomy is difficult due to its variable presentation and the unreliability of contrast swallow. Gastric tip necrosis is by far the most common cause. We feel our preferred strategy of immediate surgical treatment of symptomatic leaks is justified by the favourable outcome in the majority of patients.     

Surgical treatment of cervical anastomotic leaks following esophageal reconstruction

Cervical anastomotic leaks occurring in the early postoperative period after esophageal reconstruction are life-threatening complications, with a mortality rate similar to that of intrathoracic leaks if the posterior wall of the anastomosis is affected. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment is vital. The surgical procedures commonly used are often inadequate or unsatisfactory because of the difficulties encountered in the subsequent reconstruction. Twelve patient with an early cervical anastomotic leak following elective esophageal surgery were treated using an original surgical technique which allows diversion and simple delayed reconstruction of the anastomosis without risk of late stricture. Uncontrolled mediastinal sepsis accounted for the three deaths of the series and occurred in patients with a leak of the posterior anastomotic wall in whom definitive surgical treatment was delayed.     

Conservative treatment with total parenteral nutrition in patients with gastroesophageal anastomotic leaks (anastomotic leaks conservatively treated).

Seventeen patients with anastomotic leaks after operation for cardiac or upper gastric cancers were treated conservatively with parenteral nutrition, antibiotics and drainage. Ten patients healed after in mean 33 days, while seven died. All febrile patients had elevation of blood urea, and four had abnormal hepatic enzymes during the parenteral nutrition. There were no significant venous or infectious complications due to the parenteral nutrition.     

胆肠吻合术后吻合口狭窄的非手术治疗

目的 探讨胆肠吻合口狭窄非手术治疗的方法和疗效。方法8例经皮下盲袢、13例经T管窦道进入胆道镜,先气囊扩张狭窄,再取狭窄上方结石,瘢痕性狭窄置硬塑管支撑3-6个月;恶性狭窄胆道镜引导置金属支架。12例行PTCD;恶性狭窄不伴结石,放射介入置金属支架;如有结石或瘢痕狭窄,先扩张窦道、后经PTCS取石或置金属支架。硬塑管。全组气囊扩张19例、置硬塑管5例、置金属支架9例。结果33例中24例良性狭窄,扩张19例、置硬塑管5例均解除梗阻,9例恶性狭窄8例置金属支架解除梗附。15例伴有结石者取净结石。全组无严重并发症。结论 借助胆道镜的非手术方法在治疗胆肠吻合术后吻合口狭窄中创伤小、副损伤少、疗效确切。     

Use of self-expandable metal stents for the treatment of esophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks

Background  Esophageal perforations and extensive anastomotic leaks after esophageal resection or gastrectomy are surgical emergencies with high mortality rates. In recent years, the use of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) has emerged as a promising treatment alternative for bridging and sealing the damage. This study aimed to evaluate the role of covered SEMS for the management of esophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks. Methods  All esophageal stent placement procedures (174 procedures for 157 patients) at the authors’ unit between January 1999 and April 2008 were assessed by a retrospective chart review. Of the 157 patients, 10 (6.4%) were treated with SEMS for sealing of an iatrogenic esophageal perforation (n = 4), a spontaneous esophageal rupture in Boerhaave’s syndrome (n = 4), or an anastomotic leakage (n = 2). Results  The median time from perforation or anastomotic leak to stent insertion was 13 days (range, 2 h to 48 days). The esophageal leak was totally sealed for 8 (80%) of 10 patients. The overall mortality rate was 50% (n = 5), and three (30%) of the five deaths were related to the perforation (n = 2) or leakage (n = 1). In both of the perforation cases, the diagnosis and treatment were substantially delayed. One patient with an anastomotic leak after gastrectomy died of the complication despite successful operative and SEMS treatment. Two of the deaths were unrelated to the perforation. In both cases, the cause of death was a disseminated malignant disease. Conclusions  Traumatic perforations and anastomotic leaks can be treated effectively with covered SEMS together with adequate drainage of the thoracic cavity even in cases of severely ill patients with inveterate esophageal perforations and leaks.     

Through the looking glass: Endoscopic management of anastomotic leaks

Anastomotic leak after colorectal resection is a feared complication that dramatically worsens mortality and anastomotic survival. In this chapter, we describe the evolving field of endoscopic management of anastomotic leaks. Endoscopic management of anastomotic leaks is suitable for a minority of leaks that meet the following criteria: 1) the patient is clinically well; 2) the leak is contained; 3) the leak has no drainable component, and; 4) the leak has failed clinical observation. Distinguishing a chronic abscess from a well-drained, chronic sinus is paramount to selection for safe use of endoscopic approaches. Endoscopic techniques for appropriate anastomotic leaks include marsupialization of the tract, over-the-scope endoclips, covered stents, and vacuum-assisted closure. The use of each technique can be supported when selecting for the appropriate anatomic circumstances.     

The management and outcome of anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery

Purpose  Anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and may result in poor functional and oncological outcomes. Diagnostic difficulties may delay identification and appropriate management of leaks. The aim of this study was to look at the diagnosis, clinical management and outcomes of anastamotic leaks in our department.
Method  A retrospective audit and case note review of all patients who underwent the formation of a colorectal anastomosis between January 1996 and December 2002 ( n  = 1421) was performed. An anastomotic leak was defined as sepsis identified to have arisen from an anastomosis that subsequently required surgery, radiological drainage or intravenous antibiotics. Forty-one patients (25 male, 16 female) with a median age of 60 years (range 7–89 years) were identified as having suffered an anastomotic leak.
Results  The median time to diagnosis of an anastomotic leak following surgery was 7 days (range 3–29). At re-operation, 21 patients (51%) underwent formation of a stoma, and any who required the anastomosis to be formally taken down have been left with a 'permanent' stoma. Currently only four of 12 patients (33%) who required a stoma for an anastomotic leak following anterior resection have undergone stoma reversal. Eleven of 16 patients (69%) who had received a stoma following another colorectal procedure had undergone stoma reversal. The mortality associated with an anastamotic leak in this series was 5% ( n  = 2).
Conclusion  Although anastomotic leaks following colorectal surgery are associated with significant morbidity and stoma formation, early and aggressive management should result in a low overall mortality. If an anastomosis is taken down following an anastomotic leak after anterior resection, this will usually result in a 'permanent' stoma.     

Minimally invasive management of anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery

Anastomotic leakage is an unfortunate complication of colorectal surgery. This distressing situation can cause severe morbidity and significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Additional interventions may cause further morbidity and mortality. Parenteral nutrition and temporary diverting ostomy are the standard treatments of anastomotic leaks. However, technological developments in minimally invasive treatment modalities for anastomotic dehiscence have caused them to be used widely. These modalities include laparoscopic repair, endoscopic self-expandable metallic stents, endoscopic clips, over the scope clips, endoanal repair and endoanal sponges. The review aimed to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the minimally invasive management of anastomotic leaks.