Minimally invasive hybrid surgery: A salvage tumor enucleation for local recurrence of thoracic esophageal carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Local recurrence after definitive chemoradiation for esophageal carcinoma is associated with poor outcomes. Although salvage esophagectomy is a standard treatment that offers a chance of long-term survival, the procedure is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive hybrid surgery (MIHS) employs thoracoscopic and esophagoscopic procedures and is generally used to treat benign esophageal submucosal tumors. A 64-year-old man with thoracic esophageal carcinoma experienced local relapse after definitive chemoradiation. He underwent MIHS and was discharged 18 days after surgery with a slight degree of stricture. Pathological findings revealed squamous cell carcinoma with no residual tumor in the resection margins, and the patient remains free from cancer relapse 24 months after surgery. Here, we report the findings in this patient, in whom MIHS was successfully performed as a salvage tumor enucleation for local recurrence of esophageal carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy.     

Case of robot-assisted salvage surgery for esophageal cancer with a mediastinal fistula after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Salvage surgery for esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is effective, but it is associated with a high rate of perioperative complications. The indications for robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) are expanding. However, there are few reports of salvage RAMIE. A 73-year-old man was referred to our hospital for residual esophageal cancer with a mediastinal fistula after dCRT. The perioperative diagnosis was T3N1M0-Stage III, and the salvage RAMIE was performed. Although the dissection was difficult due to fibrosis caused by dCRT and the esophageal mediastinal fistula, RAMIE was performed safely with no complications. Multiple features of RAMIE contributed to stable surgery. The monopolar dissection is effective for hard scar tissue caused by CRT and inflammation.     

不同手术方式对胸中段食管癌的近期和远期疗效评估

目的探讨不同手术方式对胸中段食管癌的近期和远期疗效。方法回顾性分析本院收治的182例食管癌手术患者的I临床资料,其中行Ivor—Lewis术（A术）患者131例,行经左胸食管大部切除、主动脉弓上食管胃吻合术（B术,弓上食管胃吻合术）患者51例。对2组患者吻合口瘘、肺部感染等手术并发症进行统计,观察2组患者5年生存率、5年肿瘤复发率,分析患者年龄、性别、手术方法、术后并发症、肿瘤分期和淋巴结转移与食管癌患者的预后关系。结果A术发生吻合口或胃瘘、吻合口狭窄、喉返神经损伤、乳糜胸、肺部感染、胃扩张、幽门或胃梗阻的概率与B术相比无显著差异（P〉0．05）;两种手术方式总的并发症发生率比较也无显著差异（χ2=1．927,P=0．165）;A术术后5年的生存率为36．64％,而B术术后5年生存率为35．29％,两种术式比较差异无统计学意义（χ2=0．082,P=0．77）;A术术后5年肿瘤复发率为71％,而B术术后5年肿瘤复发率为76．47％,差异无统计学意义（χ2=0．41,P=0．52）;Cox回归分析结果发现,肿瘤的分期及淋巴结转移与患者的预后密切相关（P=0．005和P=0．027）,而与年龄、性别、病变长度、手术方法和术后并发症无显著相关性（P〉0．05）。结论Ivor—Lewis术与经左胸食管大部切除、主动脉弓上食管胃吻合术两种手术方式并不是中段食管癌的预后危险因素,应根据患者的具体情况选择手术方式。     

Video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position in an esophageal cancer patient with pectus excavatum

During thoracic cavity operations, it is difficult to obtain sufficient working space and good operative field visibility in patients with pectus excavatum because the space between the vertebral bodies and sternum is very narrow. Here, we report the successful treatment of esophageal cancer in a patient with pectus excavatum. A 77‐year‐old man with esophageal cancer was referred to our hospital for further treatment. He was diagnosed with multiple early esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. The patient had pectus excavatum, but because it was asymptomatic, a video‐assisted thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position without pectus excavatum repair was selected. Despite the patient's unusual anatomy, video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left decubitus position allowed for good operative field visibility, as the videoscope was inserted from the side of the diaphragm. This operative procedure is useful in patients with esophageal cancer who also have pectus excavatum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in an esophageal cancer patient with pectus excavatum.     

Transmediastinal approach for esophageal cancer: A new trend toward radical surgery

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common histology of esophageal cancer in Japan and Asia, shows extensive mediastinal spread from an early stage. Therefore, transthoracic esophagectomy with extensive mediastinal lymphadenectomy, including in the upper mediastinum along the recurrent laryngeal nerves, is the gold standard of radical surgery for ESCC. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy has now become a standard option for ESCC. However, transhiatal esophagectomy is regarded as less invasive because it avoids thoracotomy. Yet, it is also considered less curative because it offers a limited surgical view and insufficient mediastinal lymphadenectomy even when conventional specialized mediastinoscopy is used. Recent clinical studies on radical esophagectomy without thoracotomy for ESCC have been reported from Japan. The introduction of novel minimally invasive techniques for the transcervical or transhiatal approach, such as single‐port or robotic surgical devices, have enabled transmediastinal radical esophagectomy for ESCC. This review focuses on the transmediastinal approach for esophageal cancer surgery, which employs minimally invasive techniques to reduce morbidity, and its application to radical surgery for ESCC.     

Preoperative therapy in esophageal cancer

Progress has been made in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer. Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy also appears to improve survival in gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma compared to surgery alone. Adding radiotherapy to preoperative chemotherapy enhances rates of curative resection, achieves measurable rates of pathologic complete response, and recent trials indicate a survival benefit for preoperative chemoradiotherapy compared to surgery alone in esophageal cancer. Given the achievement of pathologic complete responses with combined chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer, recent trials have evaluated the contribution of surgery after chemoradiotherapy. With currently available systemic therapy for squamous cancers of the esophagus that respond to combined chemoradiotherapy, there is no clear survival benefit for the addition of surgery after chemoradiotherapy despite improvements in local tumor control with the addition of surgery. Surgery may salvage nonresponding patients with biopsy-positive residual disease. For adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, a histology with consistently lower rates of pathologic complete response than squamous cell cancer, surgery appears to play a greater role. Trials are now evaluating the use of newer chemotherapy agents combined with radiotherapy, including taxanes, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. Response on postiron emission tomography early on during induction chemotherapy may be a strong prognostic measure of outcome. Targeted agents, including monoclonal antibodies that target the epidermal and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, are in active development in phase II and III trials.     

A case of esophageal cancer with an aberrant right subclavian artery treated with mediastinoscopic esophagectomy

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is one of the famous anatomical abnormalities with a prevalence of 0.16–4.4%. In esophagectomy, anatomical abnormalities of the ARSA could cause complications with some surgical procedures. An 85-year old man was referred to our department for esophageal adenocarcinoma that was at a slightly high position for esophagectomy with the abdominal approach. However, he had a significant past medical history. This risk factor made it difficult to perform thoracoscopic esophagectomy. He underwent mediastinoscopic esophagectomy (ME) with the left cervical and laparoscopic approach. The ARSA presented no difficulties with the ME surgical technique including the dissection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node. Although this patient had a respiratory dysfunction and some difficulties in a prone position, ME enabled a safe esophagectomy with lymph node dissection.     

两种手术入路治疗420例胸中段食管癌的疗效比较

目的:比较左胸和右胸入路治疗胸中段食管癌的疗效差异。方法:回顾性分析我院2003年1月至2006年1月收治的420例胸中段食管鳞癌患者,其中经左胸入路250例(左胸组),经右胸入路170例(右胸组),比较两种路径治疗食管癌的并发症、淋巴结清扫情况及生存率。结果:左胸组与右胸组的并发症发生率分别为35.2%和50.6%(P<0.001);平均淋巴结清扫为(10.6±1.4)枚和(14.0±2.3)枚(t=-17.48,P<0.001);纵隔淋巴结复发率为54.4%和45.3%(P=0.67);1、2、3年总生存率为74.8%、54.0%、41.2%和72.9%、59.4%、50.6%,(χ2=2.819,P=0.093);1、2、3年无病生存率为58.0%、46.0%、36.0%和64.1%、54.1%、46.5%(χ2=4.073,P=0.044)。结论:经右胸入路操作复杂,并发症较多,但可减少淋巴结复发,并提高无病生存率。     

Minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer after esophageal perforation

Both esophageal rupture and esophageal cancer are life‐threatening diseases. We report a case of esophageal cancer that occurred after esophageal rupture was treated with thoracoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. A 76‐year‐old man presented with vomiting followed by epigastric pain and was diagnosed with spontaneous esophageal rupture. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery were performed. Primary closure was completed with a fundic patch, and thoracic lavage was performed. Ten months later, his condition was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of the abdominal esophagus. He underwent thoracoscopic esophageal resection in the prone position, and a gastric conduit was created laparoscopically. The pathological finding was superficial esophageal carcinoma without lymph node metastasis. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no recurrence at 21 months of follow‐up.     

Multimodal endoscopic therapy for multifocal intraepithelial neoplasia and superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma - a case series

Local endoscopic procedures are increasingly used and accepted treatments for unifocal superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). In multifocal SESCC, esophagectomy with or without chemoradiotherapy is often regarded as standard therapy. However, a combination of local endoscopic resection and new techniques such as radiofrequency ablation may play an increasing role in the treatment of selected patients with multifocal SESCC. The aim of this series was to evaluate the feasibility of a multimodal endoscopic approach. We report a case series of six consecutive patients from a European tertiary center who underwent endoscopic treatment for multifocal SESCC. The treatment comprised endoscopic mucosal resection using the cap technique or endoscopic submucosal dissection, in combination with radiofrequency ablation. The main outcome measure was complete tumor eradication after therapy and during the follow-up period. Using such an approach, complete eradication of cancer was achieved in all patients during follow-up. No major adverse events occurred. In conclusion, in selected patients with multifocal or residual SESCC, local resection techniques in combination with radiofrequency ablation may be safe and potentially curative alternative treatments.     

一种新的食管切除法——俯卧位胸腔镜食管切除术（附8例报告）

目的：总结俯卧位胸腔镜食管切除术的临床经验。方法：2009年6月—2009年8月,对10例患者进行俯卧位胸腔镜食管切除术,其中男性8例,女性2例,年龄53～71岁（平均61.1岁）。病理检查结果鳞癌9例,小细胞癌1例。肿瘤部位食管上段癌2例,食管中段癌8例。2例患者行术前化疗。取俯卧位,采用全身麻醉,单腔管气管插管,胸腔镜下游离胸段食管,腹腔镜游离胃,胃食管颈部吻合。结果：无中转开胸病例,平均手术时间3.4h（3～4.5h）,术中出血量平均100mL（50～150mL）,术后胸腔引流管放置时间平均为4.0d（3～7d）,住院时间为平均15.4d（7～37d）。3例患者术后出现并发症,其中颈部吻合口瘘1例,切口裂开1例,急性肾功能衰竭1例。结论：俯卧位胸腔镜食管切除术在技术上安全可行。     

Minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with esophageal diverticulum: A case report

Controversy remains regarding the optimal resection approach for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Furthermore, an esophageal diverticulum, although rare, can complicate surgical procedures. Herein, we report a case of EGJ adenocarcinoma with an esophageal diverticulum that was treated using the minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach (MALTA). A 72‐year‐old man, with EGJ adenocarcinoma and an epiphrenic diverticulum on esophagogastroduodenoscopy underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen revealed invasion to the lymphatic vessels. Therefore, laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and thoracoscopic lower esophagectomy with D1 lymph node dissection and double‐tract reconstruction of the esophageal diverticulum were performed via MALTA. The patient was discharged without any postoperative morbidity. MALTA provides good visualization for the transection of the lower esophagus in cases of esophageal diverticulum. Moreover, MALTA for adenocarcinoma of the EGJ is technically feasible, even with the presence of a lower esophageal diverticulum.     

Successful minimally invasive two‐stage operation for rare synchronous cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head: A case report

We report the case of a 70‐year‐old woman with synchronous advanced esophageal cancer and pancreatic head cancer. To reduce the surgical invasiveness, we performed a two‐stage operation that included percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and minimally invasive esophagectomy. In the first stage, we performed a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, a thoracoscopic esophagectomy with cervical and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and an esophagostomy without a laparotomy. The second stage, which was performed 28 days after the first operation, consisted of a total gastrectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, colonic reconstruction, and jejunostomy. Fifty days after the second operation, the patient was discharged from the hospital. A two‐stage operation that includes minimally invasive esophagectomy seems to be useful for avoiding serious postoperative complications, even in patients with rare, synchronous advanced cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head.     

胸腹腔镜下行食管癌切除术患者的护理配合

目的探讨胸腹腔镜辅助下行食管癌切除术患者的护理配合。方法回顾性分析2010年4月至2011年12月在大连医科大学附属第一医院手术室行胸腹腔镜辅助下食管癌切除术的12例患者的临床资料。所有患者在胸外科及普外科医生共同协助,采用超声刀和LigaSure,经胸腔镜后纵隔游离胸段食管、腹腔镜下游离胃及腹段食管、胃食管左颈吻合。结果本组12例患者手术过程顺利,无一例患者中转开胸。有1例患者中转开腹手术,术中无输血。结论手术室护士做好手术前准备,掌握手术过程与步骤,调整和准备好胸腔镜及腹腔镜器械,同时备好开胸、腹手术器械等是手术顺利进行的保证。     

改良Ivor-lewis与经左胸一切口手术治疗胸中段食管鳞癌的临床分析

目的比较改良Ivor-lewis和经左胸一切口两种手术方式治疗胸中段食管鳞状细胞癌的疗效,并对两种手术方式进行临床评价。方法回顾性分析本院胸外科2004年3月~2006年8月间进行的273例食管中段鳞癌手术临床资料,改良Ivor-lewis术式(改良Ivor-lewis组)189例,经左胸一切口术式(经左胸组)84例。对两组的3年和5年生存率、3年肿瘤局部复发率、淋巴结清扫数目、切缘阳性率、围术期并发症、手术时间等进行对比研究。结果改良Ivor-lewis组3年生存率为59.5%,经左胸组为60.3%(P=0.312),5年生存率分别为37%和38.1%(P=0.868);改良Ivor-lewis组3年肿瘤局部复发率为33.9%,经左胸组为46.4%(P=0.048);改良Ivor-lewis组和经左胸组平均清扫淋巴结数分别是(16.5±2.5)枚和(11.1±2.5)枚(P<0.001);上切缘阳性率分别为1.1%和7.1%(P=0.018);改良Ivor-lewis组和经左胸组的并发症发生率分别是38.6%和44%(P=0.399),其中改良Ivor-lewis组的胃潴留发生率较高(P=0.015),而经左胸组的吻合口瘘发生率较高(P=0.040);手术时间分别为(3.15±0.5)h和(3.07±0.49)h(P=0.216)。结论改良Ivor-lewis术式和经左胸一切口术式均可作为胸中段食管鳞癌的候选手术方式,但在3年肿瘤局部复发率、平均清扫淋巴结的数目、切缘阳性率及术后吻合口瘘严重并发症发生率方面,改良Ivor-lewis手术有一定优势。     

右径三切口食道癌切除术并发症的处理

目的 :探讨右径三切口食道癌切除术后并发症的处理。方法 :对 2 99例病人行右径三径切口食道癌切除术。结果 :死亡 5例 ,其中呼吸衰竭 2例 ,颈部吻合口胸腔瘘 2例 ,胃出口梗阻 1例 ,病死率 1.6 7%。术后 4 4例发生各种并发症。结论 :右径三切口食道癌切除术是食道癌治疗的一种可靠、有效的方法 ,适合于上段、中段、中下段食道癌切除术 ;在用胃管代食道时 ,甚至可适用于下段食道癌和贲门癌切除术。如能及时发现、正确处理术后并发症可获得较好的疗效     

葡萄糖调节蛋白78在人食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达及意义——附59例检测报告

目的：探讨葡萄糖调节蛋白78（glucose-regulatedprotein 78,GRP78）在人食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达情况,并了解其与食管鳞状细胞癌临床、病理特征的关系。方法：食管鳞状细胞癌手术切除标本59份,距癌组织5em以上的手术远端切缘的食管正常鳞状上皮组织20份,用免疫组织化学方法检测GRP78的表达情况,并分析GRP78的表达与临床、病理特征的关系。结果：食管鳞状细胞癌组织中GRP78的阳性表达率明显高于食管正常鳞状上皮组织（P〈0．01）;GRP78的表达程度随着浸润深度的增加而增高;随着分化程度的降低而增高;病理分期高者表达高于病理分期低者;有淋巴转移者明显高于无淋巴转移者（P〈0．05～0．01）。GRP78表达与患者性别及肿瘤长度无关（P〉0．05）。结论：食管鳞状细胞癌患者多呈GRP78的阳性表达,说明GRP78可能参与了人类食管鳞状细胞癌的发生、发展。     

化疗及序贯放疗后手术治疗局部晚期食管癌30例分析

目的探讨应用紫杉醇＋顺铂方案化疗及序贯放疗后,再行手术治疗局部晚期食管鳞癌的近期疗效。方法局部晚期食管鳞癌患者30例,应用紫杉醇＋顺铂方案化疗2个周期后,序贯常规剂量分割放疗40Oy,放疗结束4周行食管癌切除＋重建消化道术;评定术前放、化疗疗效,观察放、化疗不良反应及手术切除率、病理客观缓解率、并发症发生率、术后病死率。结果30例均完成术前放、化疗,临床有效率为83．3％;2例不接受手术者继续放、化疗,余28例手术治疗者中1例侵犯主动脉未能切除,27例行根治性切除,手术切除率96．4％;术后并发肺部感染8例,吻合口瘘2例,声音嘶哑1例,吻合口狭窄1例,围手术期死于急性呼吸窘迫综合征1例。结论局部晚期食管鳞癌患者在紫杉醇＋顺铂方案化疗及序贯放疗后行手术治疗,可提高临床有效率和手术切除率。     

Thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy via a right thoracic cavity approach to treat an intractable fistula after 20 months from onset of an idiopathic esophageal rupture: A case report

An intractable fistula caused by idiopathic esophageal rupture is a rare but severe condition. In the present case, a 69‐year‐old man had been treated conservatively at another hospital for esophageal rupture but had developed an abscess in the left thoracic cavity due to an intractable fistula at the rupture site. He was referred to our hospital for treatment 19 months after the esophageal rupture. On admission, the intractable fistula was found to be continuous with an abscess in the left thoracic cavity. Preoperative continuous enteral nutrition was administered to improve the patient's nutritional status, and drainage was performed to reduce the size of the abscess. Then, to minimize the invasion of the intractable fistula, thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy was performed via a right thoracic cavity approach 20 months after the esophageal rupture. Preoperative management and thoracoscopic surgery via an opposite chest cavity approach was found to be safe and feasible for the intractable fistula caused by idiopathic esophageal rupture.     

联合胸降主动脉节段置换的T4期食管癌根治术36例临床分析

目的总结T4期侵犯胸降主动脉的局部晚期食管癌手术的治疗经验,探讨同期行降主动脉节段切除及人造血管置换的应用方法和操作技巧。方法回顾分析我院2001年1月至2010年12月36例在食管癌手术同时行胸降主动脉部分切除置换患者的手术方法和治疗结果。所有患者均采用左后外侧切口经第6肋间进胸,由胸降主动脉左侧切开血管外膜,切断相应肋间动脉,常温下在受累主动脉上、下分别阻断,切除食管肿瘤及受累主动脉,并行人造血管置换。胃充分游离后,经食管床上提至左颈部与食管残端吻合。结果本组均顺利完成根治性肿瘤切除,无围术期死亡,无截瘫、肾脏及肠道功能衰竭等严重并发症,出现乳糜胸2例,晚期吻合口瘘1例。术后住院时间10．0～42．0d,平均（15．5±7．2）d。术后病理检查均为鳞状细胞癌,均侵犯主动脉外膜,9例（25％,9／36）有中层浸润,全组未发现内膜受侵,有区域淋巴结转移者19例（52．8％,19／36）。患者1、3、5年生存率分别为80．6％、46．2％、20．0％。结论对于侵犯胸降主动脉的局部晚期食管癌,可联合采用主动脉节段切除并人造血管重建的方法达到根治目的,提高肿瘤切除率,改善患者生活质量和远期治疗效果。