Exposure to an atomic bomb explosion is a risk factor for in‐hospital death after esophagectomy to treat esophageal cancer

Esophagectomy, one of the most invasive of all gastrointestinal operations, is associated with a high frequency of postoperative complications and in‐hospital mortality. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether exposure to the atomic bomb explosion at Hiroshima in 1945 might be a preoperative risk factor for in‐hospital mortality after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients. We thus reviewed the outcomes of esophagectomy in 31 atomic bomb survivors with esophageal cancer and 96 controls (also with cancer but without atomic bomb exposure). We compared the incidences of postoperative complications and in‐hospital mortality. Of the clinicopathological features studied, mean patient age was significantly higher in atomic bomb survivors than in controls. Of the postoperative complications noted, atomic bomb survivors experienced a longer mean period of endotracheal intubation and higher incidences of severe pulmonary complications, severe anastomotic leakage, and surgical site infection. The factors associated with in‐hospital mortality were exposure to the atomic bomb explosion, pulmonary comorbidities, and electrocardiographic abnormalities. Multivariate analysis revealed that exposure to the atomic bomb explosion was an independent significant preoperative risk factor for in‐hospital mortality. Exposure to the atomic bomb explosion is thus a preoperative risk factor for in‐hospital death after esophagectomy to treat esophageal cancer.     

Use of low dose dopamine, gabexate mesilate and ulinastatin reduces the water balance and pulmonary complication in thoracic esophagectomy patients

SUMMARY: In spite of improvements in surgical technique and perioperative care, severe lung complication remains as the leading cause of morbidity in thoracic esophageal cancer patients who undergo esophagectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of postoperative drug therapy using low dose dopamine, gabexate mesilate, and ulinastatin on postoperative lung complication in esophageal cancer patients. Sixty-one patients operated for esophageal cancer from 1996 to 2000 were treated postoperatively with low dose dopamine (300 microg/kg/h), gabexate mesilate (80 mg/h), and ulinastatin (300 000 unit/day) as a study group. Seventy-four patients operated from 1987 to 1994 served as an historical control group. Various preoperative and perioperative medical parameters and water balance were analyzed. Postoperative pulmonary complications were observed in 26 patients (35.1%) in the control group and three patients (4.9%) in the study group, respectively (P < 0.0001). Preoperative and perioperative variables were not significantly different between the groups. Water balance from operation to postoperative day 3 in the study group was significantly lower than the control group. Postoperative use of low dose dopamine, gabexate mesilate, and ulinastatin significantly reduced pulmonary complications after esophagectomy. This may be partly attributable to negative water balance during the early postoperative days.     

Pulmonary complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following transthoracic esophagectomy

AIM: To investigate the incidence of various types of postoperative pulmonary complications (POPCs) and to evaluate the significance of perioperative arterial blood gases in patients with esophageal cancer accompanied with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after esophagectomy. MEHTODS: Three hundred and fifty-eight patients were divided into POPC group and COPD group. We performed a retrospective review of the 358 consecutive patients after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with or without COPD to assess the possible influence of COPD on postoperative pulmonary complications. We classified COPD into four grades according to percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and analyzed the incidence rate of complications among the four grades. Perioperative arterial blood gases were tested in patients with or without pulmonary complications in COPD group and compared with POPC group. RESULTS: Patients with COPD (29/86, 33.7%) had more pulmonary complications than those without COPD (36/272, 13.2%) (P<0.001). Pneumonia (15/29, 51.7%), atelectasis (13/29, 44.8%), prolonged 02 supplement (10/29, 34.5%), and prolonged mechanical ventilation (8/29, 27.6%) were the major complications in COPD group. Moreover, patients with severe COPD (grade n B, FEV1 < 50% of predicted) had more POPCs than those with moderate(gradeⅡA,50%-80% of predicted) and mild (gradeⅠ≥80% of predicted) COPD (P<0.05). PaO2 was decreased and PaCO2 was increased in patients with pulmonary complications in COPD group in the first postoperative week. CONCLUSION: The criteria of COPD are the critical predictor for pulmonary complications in esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy. Severity of COPD affects the incidence rate of the pulmonary complication, and percent-predicted FEV1 is a good predictive variable for pulmonary complication in patients with COPD. Arterial blood gases are helpful in directing perioperative management.     

Dietician‐delivered intensive nutritional support is associated with a decrease in severe postoperative complications after surgery in patients with esophageal cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietician‐delivered intensive nutritional support (INS) on postoperative outcome in patients with esophageal cancer. Approximately 50–80% of patients with esophageal cancer are malnourished at the time of diagnosis. Malnutrition enhances the risk of postoperative complications, resulting in delay of postoperative recovery and impairment of quality of life. Sixty‐five patients with esophageal cancer were included. All patients who received surgery (n = 28) in the time frame between March 2009 and April 2010, the first year after the start of INS, were included in the INS intervention group. The control group (n = 37) consisted of patients who received surgery during the 3 years before the start of INS. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare differences in severity of postoperative complications using the Dindo classification. Linear regression was applied to evaluate differences in preoperative weight change. The adjusted odds ratio for developing serious complications after surgery of INS compared with the control group was 0.23 (95% confidence interval: 0.053–0.97; P = 0.045). Benefit was mainly observed in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy before esophagectomy (n = 35). The INS program furthermore resulted in a relative preoperative weight gain in comparison with the control group of +4.8% (P = 0.009, adjusted) in these neoadjuvant‐treated patients. This study shows that dietician‐delivered INS preserves preoperative weight and decreases severe postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer.     

Respiratory function after esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Postoperative respiratory hypofunction sometime ruins quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer. From 1993, we introduced transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy as a less invasive surgery to prevent postoperative respiratory complications for patients who have relatively early stage of esophageal cancer and have preoperative respiratory complication, or who are older in age. In this study, postoperative long-term evaluation of respiratory functions of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy was performed. METHODOLOGY: Among the patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy in our hospital between 1993 and 1995, we selected 13 patients who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy (transhiatal group) and 9 patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy (transthoracic group). Conventional respiratory function tests (VC, vital capacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FEV1/FVC, ratio of FEV1 to FVC; PEF, peak expiratory flow) were compared between the two groups at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation. RESULTS: In the transhiatal group, postoperative average values of VC, FVC, and FEV1 recovered 92%, 98%, and 93% of preoperative average values at 6 months after operation, while in the transthoracic group, the average values of VC, FVC, and FEV1 were still 78%, 78%, and 72% of preoperative average values at 6 months after operation. Postoperative respiratory complications were detected in 4 patients (transhiatal: 2 and transthoracic: 2). The recovery rates of VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF at 6 months after operation of these 4 patients were not different from those of 18 patients without postoperative respiratory complications. CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated with transthoracic esophagectomy, postoperative respiratory hypofunctions continued over 6 months after surgery. However, postoperative respiratory complications may not be related with the long-term postoperative respiratory hypofunction in patients with esophageal cancer.     

Short‐term outcomes of robotic radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by a nontransthoracic approach compared with conventional transthoracic surgery

Transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) is believed to have advantages for mediastinal lymphadenectomy in the treatment of resectable esophageal cancer despite its association with a greater incidence of pulmonary complications and postoperative mortality. Transhiatal esophagectomy is regarded as less invasive, though insufficient in terms of lymph node dissection. With the aim of achieving lymph dissection equivalent to that of TTE, we have developed a nontransthoracic esophagectomy (NTTE) procedure combining a video‐assisted cervical approach for the upper mediastinum and a robot‐assisted transhiatal approach for the middle and lower mediastinum. We prospectively studied 22 accumulated cases of NTTE and verified feasibility by analyzing perioperative and histopathological outcomes. We compared this group's short‐term outcomes with outcomes of 139 equivalent esophageal cancer cases operated on at our institution by conventional TTE (TTE group). In the NTTE group, there were no procedure‐related events and no midway conversions to the conventional surgery; the mean operation time was longer (median, 524 vs. 428 minutes); estimated blood loss did not differ significantly between the two groups (median, 385 mL vs. 490 mL); in the NTTE group, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (median, 18 days vs. 24 days). No postoperative pneumonia occurred in the NTTE group. The frequencies of other major postoperative complications did not differ significantly, nor were there differences in the numbers of harvested mediastinal lymph nodes (median, 30 vs. 29) or in other histopathology findings. NTTE offers a new radical procedure for resection of esophageal cancer combining a cervical video‐assisted approach and a transhiatal robotic approach. Although further accumulation of surgical cases is needed to corroborate these results, NTTE promises better prevention of pulmonary complications in the management of esophageal cancer.     

Does neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer increase postoperative morbidity or mortality?

Neoadjuvant therapy has proven to be effective in the reduction of locoregional recurrence and mortality for esophageal cancer. However, induction treatment has been reported to be associated with increased risk of postoperative complications. We therefore compared outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer for patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and patients treated with surgery alone. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005–2011), we identified 1939 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Seven hundred and eight (36.5%) received neoadjuvant therapy, while 1231 (63.5%) received no neoadjuvant therapy within 90 days prior to surgery. Primary outcome was 30‐day mortality, and secondary outcomes included overall and serious morbidity, length of stay, and operative time. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment were younger (62.3 vs. 64.7, P < 0.001), were more likely to have experienced recent weight loss (29.4% vs. 15.9%, P < 0.001), and had worse preoperative hematological cell counts (white blood cells <4.5 or >11 × 10⁹/L: 29.3% vs. 15.0%, P < 0.001; hematocrit <36%: 49.7% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.001). On unadjusted analysis, 30‐day mortality, overall, and serious morbidity were comparable between the two groups, with the exception of the individual complications of venous thromboembolic events and bleeding transfusion, which were significantly lower in the surgery‐only patients (5.71% vs. 8.27%, P = 0.027; 6.89% vs. 10.57%, P = 0.004; respectively). Multivariable and matched analysis confirmed that 30‐day mortality, overall, and serious morbidity, as well as prolonged length of stay, were comparable between the two groups of patients. An increasing trend of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer was observed through the study years (from 29.0% in 2005–2006 to 44.0% in 2011, P < 0.001). According to our analysis, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer does not increase 30‐day mortality or the overall risk of postoperative complications after esophagectomy.     

Early enteral nutrition compared with parenteral nutrition for esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy: a meta‐analysis

Early postoperative enteral nutrition (EN) after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patient has been reported to be correlated with a better rehabilitation than parenteral nutrition (PN). However, a robust conclusion has not been achieved. Therefore, we performed a meta‐analysis to compare the postoperative EN and PN in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. Three electronic databases were searched for eligible studies to be included in the meta‐analysis. The summary relative risk/weighted mean difference (RR/WMD) estimates and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed‐ and random‐effects models. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis demonstrated that the early postoperative EN could significantly decrease the pulmonary complications (RR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.22–0.62, P = 0.00, test for heterogeneity: I² = 0.0%, P = 0.89) and anastomotic leakage (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.22–0.96, P = 0.04, test for heterogeneity: I² = 0.0%, P = 0.66) compared with PN. On the eighth postoperative day, the EN group had a higher levels of albumin (WMD = 1.84, 95% CI = 0.47–3.21, P = 0.01, test for heterogeneity: I² = 84.5%, P = 0.00) and prealbumin (WMD = 12.96, 95% CI = 3.63–22.29, P = 0.01, test for heterogeneity: I² = 0.0%, P = 0.63) compared with the PN group. However, there was no difference in digestive complications between these two approaches (RR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.79–2.13, P = 0.30, test for heterogeneity: I² = 0.0%, P = 0.97). For patients with esophageal cancer following esophagectomy, the early postoperative EN support could decrease the morbidity of severe complications, such as pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage, and maintain patients at a better nutritional status than parenteral nutrion support.     

医用多功能胸带在胸腹腔镜联合食管癌围术期的临床应用

目的对胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除术患者围术期使用带有呼吸功能训练装置的医用多功能胸带,探讨该胸带对患者术后肺部并发症的影响。 方法选取2019年3月至2021年1月在我院行胸腹腔镜联合食管癌根治术患者62例,随机分为对照组34例和观察组28例,对照组术后使用传统多头胸带,观察组术后使用我院研发的医用多功能胸带,观察两组患者术前1 d和术后第7 d的血氧饱和度、肺功能指标,以及术后首次下床时间、日活动总量、排气排便、肺部并发症(肺不张、肺部感染、皮下气肿)的情况。 结果观察组患者术前肺功能指标略高于对照组(P<0.05),术后第7 d患者肺功能最大通气量(MVV)、用力肺活量(FVC),1秒用力呼气量(FEV₁)指标显著优于对照组(P<0.01),活动后末梢血氧饱和度高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组患者首次下床时间和排气排便时间均早于对照组(P<0.05),日活动总量显著高于对照组(P<0.01),术后肺部并发症低于对照组(P<0.05)。 结论胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除术患者围术期使用医用多功能胸带可改善患者肺功能,促进患者早期下床活动,增加活动总量,并降低肺部并发症的发生。     

Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress (E-PASS system) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing resection

Background  The Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress (E-PASS) scoring system was designed on the hypothesis that the balance between the patient’s physiological reverse capacity and the surgical stress of operation was important in the development of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the E-PASS scoring system could predict the occurrence of complications after elective esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, including salvage esophagectomy. Methods  E-PASS predictor equations were applied retrospectively to 142 patients who had undergone esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [110 patients without preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 15 patients with neoadjuvant CRT followed by planned esophagectomy, and 17 patients with definitive CRT followed by salvage esophagectomy]. The incidence rates of postoperative complications were compared with the preoperative risk score (PRS), surgical stress score (SSS), and comprehensive risk score (CRS) of the E-PASS scoring system. Results  Of the 142 patients, 43 (30%) had postoperative complications. The incidence of postoperative complications increased as the CRS score increased. Patients with a CRS > 1.0 were at a particularly high risk of postoperative complications. Definitive CRT increased the incidence of postoperative complications, and the SSS and CRS of patients with definitive CRT were significantly higher than those of patients without preoperative CRT or with neoadjuvant CRT. Conclusions  The E-PASS scoring system was useful in predicting complications after elective esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The SSS of the E-PASS scoring system could also reflect the maximum invasiveness of salvage esophagectomy.     

Can immune‐enhancing nutrients reduce postoperative complications in patients undergoing esophageal surgery?

Postoperative infection of esophageal neoplasm surgery is the major cause of prolonged postoperative hospitalization, as well as morbidity. The clinical benefits of administering immune‐enhancing nutrients (IEN) to critically ill patients and those undergoing elective surgery were clarified. However, the benefits of preoperative administration of IEN for patients with esophageal cancer remain unclear. The present study was designed to clarify the clinical efficacy of administration of IEN prior to esophageal surgery. A total of 123 patients undergoing esophagectomy in single institute were retrospectively investigated. All patients received postoperative enteral nutrition by use of ordinal nutrients. Preoperative IEN were also given to 84 patients (IEN group), while the other 39 received an ordinary diet (control). Postoperative courses and laboratory data were compared between the two groups. The incidences of infectious complications in the IEN and control groups were 18% and 38%, respectively (P < 0.05). Pneumonia developed in 5 (6%) IEN and 7 (18%) control patients (P < 0.05). Postoperative hospitalization was shorter in the IEN group (P < 0.01). Prealbumin levels, retinal binding protein levels and the lymphocyte count were significantly higher in the IEN group on postoperative day 3. These results suggest that preoperative administration of IEN in patients undergoing esophagectomy reduces infectious complications, mainly pneumonia, and shortens postoperative hospitalization.     

Clinical significance of plasma fibrinogen level as a predictive marker for postoperative recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment

Among multidisciplinary therapies developed for advanced esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy have been established as standard treatments. To deliver cautious follow up and intense treatment for high‐risk patients, a simple and instructive biomarker for the postoperative recurrence needs to be identified. Fibrinogen, a common component of hemostasis, has been suggested to not only play an important role in cancer metastasis, but also correlate with tumor recurrence. We aim to clarify the validity of plasma fibrinogen as a marker for predicting the postoperative recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who received neoadjuvant treatment. We reviewed 72 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, followed by esophagectomy at the Keio University Hospital from 2001 to 2010. Of them, we retrospectively examined 68 patients who underwent plasma fibrinogen examination before and after neoadjuvant treatment and underwent transthoracic radical esophagectomy. We investigated patient characteristics, clinicopathological factors, neoadjuvant treatment effects, postoperative course, and plasma fibrinogen levels. We investigated pretreatment and preoperative (postneoadjuvant treatment) plasma fibrinogen levels, as well as changes in fibrinogen levels before and after neoadjuvant treatment. Patients with preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia (>350 mg/dL) and patients with increased plasma fibrinogen levels during neoadjuvant treatment showed significantly shorter postoperative disease‐free survival (DFS) (P = 0.002 and P = 0.037, respectively). Moreover, we classified these patients into three classes on the basis of their preoperative fibrinogen levels and changes in fibrinogen levels during neoadjuvant treatment. Patients who had both high preoperative plasma fibrinogen and increased fibrinogen levels showed significantly shorter DFS than others. In contrast, patients who had normal preoperative plasma fibrinogen and decreased fibrinogen levels showed significantly longer DFS. Based on this fibrinogen classification, we could differentiate between significantly favorable and poor prognosis patients group. Overall, this classification (hazard ratio = 1.812, P = 0.013) and the response to neoadjuvant treatment (hazard ratio = 0.350, P = 0.007) were found to be significant determining factors for postoperative DFS. With the validity of preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels and changes in fibrinogen levels during neoadjuvant treatment, the plasma fibrinogen level was found to be a possible biomarker for postoperative recurrence in advanced esophageal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant treatment. Moreover, plasma fibrinogen classification could be a simple and valuable predictive marker for postoperative follow up.     

Pathological and clinical impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using full-dose gemcitabine and concurrent radiation for resectable pancreatic cancer

Background/purpose

The therapeutic options available as preoperative strategies for resectable pancreatic cancer have received worldwide attention. We have recently introduced neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) to achieve local control and possibly complete cure. In this study, we have retrospectively evaluated its impact on pathology and the perioperative clinical course in addition to its safety.

Methods

Sixty-one patients who received full-dose gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) preoperatively with concurrent radiation (50 or 54 Gy) were evaluated. Seventy-one patients who received no preoperative therapy served as controls. Perioperative outcomes, postoperative complications, immunonutritional status, and the performance of adjuvant chemotherapy were compared.

Results

Fifty-nine patients (97 %) completed NACRT. Toxicity was acceptable and the regimen was feasible as outpatient treatment. The perioperative outcomes were closely comparable to control. The rate of pancreatic fistula was lower and hospital stay was shorter in the NACRT group. The rate of lymph node metastasis and stage was lower in the NACRT group. Furthermore, R0 resection could be achieved in 92 % of patients treated with NACRT. Nutritional status decreased after NACRT and further deteriorated during adjuvant chemotherapy. The initiation of postoperative chemotherapy was delayed in the NACRT group.

Conclusions

Our current protocol of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is feasible and substantially improves the pathology. However, it has some detrimental effects on postoperative nutritional status and performance of adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, it should be noted that there is a possibility of arterial complications.     

Estimation of physiologic ability and surgical stress (E-PASS) can assess short-term outcome after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Background

Postoperative morbidity after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is still frequent. Tools for prediction of postoperative complications have been sought, with the estimation of physiologic ability and surgical stress (E-PASS) scoring system being one of the candidates. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the E-PASS system for risk assessment of esophagectomy.

Methods

The clinical courses of 308 patients who underwent elective subtotal esophagectomy with lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer were analyzed. The incidence and severity of complication and influence of preoperative therapy were investigated using the E-PASS system.

Results

The incidence of any complication was as high as 42.2 %. The frequency of severe and critical complications was 13.0 and 6.8 %, respectively. The E-PASS system could estimate the incidence and severity of complications. Patients with a comprehensive risk score (CRS) >0.9 had a significantly higher probability of incidence of severe or critical complications. The incidence of complication and the CRS increased linearly according to preoperative treatment in the following order: no preoperative treatment < neoadjuvant chemotherapy < neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy < definitive chemoradiotherapy. These were significantly higher after salvage esophagectomy.

Conclusion

The E-PASS scoring system was useful for risk assessment after esophagectomy. Patients with a CRS >0.9 and patients undergoing salvage esophagectomy should be treated carefully after surgery. Among two scoring systems of which the CRS consisted, the surgical stress score strongly correlated with postoperative complications after esophagectomy, but the preoperative risk score did not.     

Esophagectomy in patients 80 years of age and older with carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the indications for an esophagectomy in elderly patients (especially patients over 80 years of age) with esophageal cancer. METHODS: A total of 668 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent an esophagectomy by the transthoracic approach were divided into three groups according to age, namely, groups I (>80 years, n=16), II (70-79 years, n=158), and III (相似文献   

Patterns of operative mortality following esophagectomy

Esophagectomy has one of the highest mortality rates among all surgical procedures. We investigated the type and frequency of complications associated with perioperative mortality after esophagectomy. We performed a retrospective review of all perioperative deaths following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester from 1993 through 2009. Of 1522 esophagectomies, perioperative mortality occurred in 45 (3.0%). The majority who died were male (82%); median age was 72 years (range 46–92). The median age‐adjusted Charlson comorbidity score was 6. Twenty‐three (51%) underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The type of esophagectomy was transthoracic in 27 patients (60%), transhiatal in eight (18%), tri‐incisional in seven (16%), left thoracoabdominal in one (2%), and transabdominal in one (2%). A mean of 3.2 major complications occurred prior to death (median 2.5, range 1–8), with the most common being pulmonary complications occurring in 30 patients (67%) and anastomotic complications in 20 (44%). The primary underlying cause of death was pulmonary complications and anastomotic complications in 18 patients (40%) each, respectively, abdominal sepsis in three (7%), fatal hemorrhage in three (7%), and pulmonary embolism, stroke and multisystem organ failure in one each (2%), respectively. Patients died a median of 19 days (range 3–98) following esophagectomy. Most patients who died following esophagectomy experienced multiple serious complications rather than a single causative event. Major pulmonary and anastomotic complications were implicated in the vast majority of perioperative mortality, and should remain the focus of efforts to improve clinical outcomes.     

Prospective randomized controlled study on the effects of perioperative administration of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor to patients undergoing video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer

Sivelestat sodium hydrate (Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Osaka, Japan) is a selective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (NE) and is effective in reducing acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study to investigate the efficacy of perioperative administration of sivelestat sodium hydrate to prevent postoperative acute lung injury in patients undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy and radical lymphadenectomy. Twenty‐two patients with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection in our institution between April 2007 and November 2008. Using a double‐blinded method, these patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups preoperatively. The active treatment group received sivelestat sodium hydrate intravenously for 72 hours starting at the beginning of surgery (sivelestat‐treated group; n= 11), while the other group received saline (control group; n= 11). All patients were given methylprednisolone immediately before surgery. Postoperative clinical course was compared between the two groups. Two patients (one in each group) were discontinued from the study during the postoperative period because of surgery‐related complications. Of the remaining 20 patients, 2 patients who developed pneumonia within a week after surgery were excluded from some laboratory analyses, so data from 18 patients (9 patients in each group) were analyzed based on the arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, white blood cell count, serum C‐reactive protein level, plasma cytokine levels, plasma NE level, and markers of alveolar type II epithelial cells. In the current study, the incidence of postoperative morbidity did not differ between the two groups. The median duration of SIRS in the sivelestat‐treated group was significantly shorter than that in the control group: 17 (range 9–36) hours versus 49 (15–60) hours, respectively (P= 0.009). Concerning the parameters used for the diagnosis of SIRS, the median heart rates on postoperative day (POD) 2 were significantly lower in the sivelestat‐treated group than in the control group (P= 0.007). The median arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of the sivelestat‐treated group were significantly higher than those of the control group on POD 1 and POD 7 (POD 1: 372.0 [range 284.0–475.0] vs 322.5 [243.5–380.0], respectively, P= 0.040; POD 7: 377.2 [339.5–430.0] vs 357.6 [240.0–392.8], P= 0.031). Postoperative white blood cell counts, serum C‐reactive protein levels, plasma interleukin‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α levels, and plasma NE levels did not differ significantly between the two groups at any point during the postoperative course, nor did serum Krebs von den Lungen 6, surfactant protein‐A, or surfactant protein‐D levels, which were used as markers of alveolar type II epithelial cells to evaluate the severity of lung injury. Plasma interleukin‐8 levels were significantly lower in the sivelestat‐treated group than in the control group on POD 3 (P= 0.040). In conclusion, perioperative administration of sivelestat sodium hydrate (starting at the beginning of surgery) mitigated postoperative hypoxia, partially suppressed postoperative hypercytokinemia, shortened the duration of SIRS, and stabilized postoperative circulatory status after thoracoscopic esophagectomy.     

Assessment of physical fitness for esophageal surgery,and targeting interventions to optimize outcomes

This review examines how higher levels of physiological reserve and fitness can help the patient endure the demands of esophageal surgery. Lung function, body composition, cardiac function, inflammatory mediators and exercise performance are all determinants of fitness. Physical fitness, both as an independent risk factor and through its effect on other risk factors, has been found to be significantly associated with the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients following esophagectomy. Respiratory dysfunction preoperatively poses the dominant risk of developing complications, and PPCs are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of PPCs is between 15 and 40% with an associated 4.5‐fold increase in operative mortality leading to approximately 45% of all deaths post‐esophagectomy. Cardiac complications are the other principal postoperative complications, and pulmonary and cardiac complications are reported to account for up to 70% of postoperative deaths after esophagectomy. Risk reduction in patients planned for surgery is key in attaining optimal outcomes. The goal of this review was to discuss the risk factors associated with the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and how these may be modified prior to surgery with a specific focus on the pulmonary complications associated with esophageal resection. There are few studies that have examined the effect of modifying physical fitness pre‐esophageal surgery. The data to date would indicate a need to develop targeted interventions preoperatively to increase physical function with the aim of decreasing postoperative complications.     

Is preoperative methylprednisolone beneficial for patients undergoing esophagectomy?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study examined whether or not preoperative administration of methylprednisolone reduces perioperative systemic inflammatory response and thus can offer clinical benefit to patients. METHODOLOGY: Forty patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who were scheduled for esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy were randomly allocated to either of the following two groups: 20 patients received methylprednisolone (500 mg/body) in saline 2 hours before surgery and another 20 patients received a placebo (saline alone). The effects on the early clinical course were assessed by rectal intramucosal pH (pHi) as a marker of systemic oxygenation, water balance, serum cytokine levels and the incidence of postoperative complications. The effects on the late clinical course were examined by comparing patient survival time. RESULTS: Rectal pHi value, water balance, blood balance and body weight change did not significantly differ between the two groups. Serum proinflammatory cytokine (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) levels were significantly higher in the control group than the methylprednisolone group 2 hours after surgery. Serum C-reactive protein was also significantly higher in the control group on postoperative day 2 and 3. No significant differences were seen in the incidence of postoperative complications. Survival curves for the two groups did not statistically differ. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative methylprednisolone significantly reduces inflammatory cytokine response immediately after surgery for esophageal cancer, but its clinical benefit remains unclear.     

Clinical usefulness of sputum culture on the first postoperative day to predict early postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Background

Postoperative pneumonia is a serious prognostic problem that can appear after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer. The past reports have considered the usefulness of perioperative culture examinations for predicting postoperative pneumonia; however, the direct relationship between these examinations and postoperative complications remains unclear.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy followed by sputum culture on the first postoperative day. The bacterial species that frequently cause hospital-acquired pneumonia were chosen as the target species in this study. The relationship between culture examination and postoperative pneumonia within one week (7 days) after esophagectomy was investigated.

Results

Sputum cultures on the first postoperative day were investigated in 238 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Forty-one patients developed pneumonia within one week after surgery. The target bacterial species were detected in 26 of 238 sputum cultures (10.9%). In the univariate analysis, a Brinkman index, detection of target bacterial species, detection of Gram-positive cocci, and Gram-negative rods were significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia. In the three independent multivariate analyses, the target bacterial species, Gram-positive cocci, and Gram-negative rods (p?=?0.001, 0.042, and?<?0.001) were individually identified as independent risk factors of postoperative pneumonia in addition to a Brinkman index.

Conclusions

Detection of target bacterial species by sputum culture on the first postoperative day after esophagectomy was an independent risk factor of postoperative pneumonia within 7 days after surgery. Prospective studies for the prevention of early postoperative pneumonia using sputum culture on the first postoperative day can be considered.