Correction of gastrocardial syndrome in patients with hernias of the esophageal orifice of the diaphragm during antireflux operations

Introduction. Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm in 90% of cases is the main cause of the development of reflux esophagitis. The doctrine highlighted a large group of extraesophageal manifestations of reflux esophagitis, including gastrocardiac syndrome.Аim. The purpose of this publication is to evaluate the effectiveness of antireflux surgery in patients with hiatal hernia through the prism of its effectiveness in the dynamics of gastrocardial syndrome regression.Material and мethods. The paper presents the results of diagnostics and surgical treatment of 101 patients with hiatal hernia.Results. According to the data of instrumental research methods, cardiac hernias of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm were detected in 45 (44.5%) patients, cardiofundal in 40 (39.6%), subtotal in 15 (14.8%), total in 1 (0.9%). The main place in the clinical picture of gastrocardial syndrome was occupied by the pain syndrome behind the breastbone (83.1%). Thus, arrhythmias were found in 16 (40.0%) patients with cardiofundal, in 10 (66.6%) subtotal and in 1 (100.0%) total hiatal hernia, and angina pectoris is characteristic of cardiac hernias and was observed in 20 (44.4%) patients. The clinical manifestation of reflex angina pectoris and arrhythmias depended on the degree of shortening of the esophagus. Thus, arrhythmias were more common in patients with cardiofundal (50.0%), subtotal (71.4%), total (100.0%) hiatal hernia with II degree of shortening of the esophagus, and angina pectoris characteristic of cardiac (75.0%) hiatal hernia. with II degree of shortening of the esophagus. Reflex angina is typical for patients of the older age group, and manifestations of arrhythmia are recorded at a younger age. Heart rate variability was considered, according to electrocardiogram and Holter ECG monitoring before and after surgical treatment, where the parameters significantly (p> 0.05) decreased.Conclusions. The phenomena of gastrocardial syndrome regressed after antireflux surgery in 44 (43.5%) patients. Surgical treatment from the endovideosurgical approach did not worsen the results of surgical treatment.

Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Mixture Regulate PPARγ/RXR Signaling in Reflux Esophagitis

Objective. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach contents reflux into the esophagus, causing complications such as mucosal damage. GERD is a very common disease and is on the rise worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium mixture (SC) on esophageal mucosal injury in rats with chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE). Methods. After inducing reflux esophagitis through surgery, the group was separated and the drug was administered for 2 weeks: normal rats (Normal, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with distilled water (Control, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with vitamin E 30 mg/kg body weight (VitE, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 100 mg/kg body weight (SC100, n = 8), and CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 200 mg/kg body weight (SC200, n = 8). Results. SC treatment significantly reduced the degree of esophageal mucosal damage, significantly reduced levels of MDA and MPO, and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway by activating the PPARγ/RXR pathway. In addition, SC treatment significantly regulated the expression of arachidonic acid-related proteins (COX-1, COX-2, and PGE2) and modulated the MMP/TIMP proteins in reflux esophagitis. Conclusion. Consequently, SC improved the damage to the esophageal mucosa. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of the SC suggested the inhibition of NF-κB pathway through the activation of the PPARγ/RXR pathway, thereby reducing the expression of inflammation-related cytokines.

Geriatric patients with esophageal motility disorders benefit more from minimally invasive peroral endoscopic myotomy: a multicenter study in Japan

Summary Geriatric patients with existing studies on the safety and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia involve small sample sizes and single institutions. However, multi-center, large-scale data analyses are lacking. The study aimed to clarify the characteristics of geriatric patients with esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) and determine the procedure-related outcomes and clinical course following POEM. This cohort study included 2,735 patients with EMDs who were treated at seven Japanese facilities between 2010 and 2019. The patients’ characteristics and post-POEM clinical courses were compared between the geriatric (age ≥ 75 years; n = 321) and non-geriatric (age < 75 years; n = 2,414) groups. Compared with the non-geriatric group, the geriatric group had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scores; more recurrent cases; lower incidence of chest pain; and higher incidence of type III achalasia, distal esophageal spasm, and Jackhammer esophagus. Furthermore, the incidence of sigmoid esophagus was higher, although esophageal dilation was not severe in this group. POEM was safe and effective for geriatric patients with treatment-naïve and recurrent EMDs. Furthermore, compared with the non-geriatric group, the geriatric group had lower post-POEM Eckardt scores, fewer complaints of refractory chest pain, and a lower incidence rate of post-POEM reflux esophagitis. Geriatric patients are characterized by worse clinical conditions, more spastic disorders, and greater disease progression of EMDs, which are also the indications for minimally invasive POEM. POEM is more beneficial in geriatric patients as it has lowering symptom scores and incidence rates of reflux esophagitis.

A Novel Method of Piggyback Jejunal Interposition Reconstruction Single-Tract Reconstruction After Proximal Gastrectomy for Siewert II and III Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction with a Diameter <4 cm

Background Digestive tract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy (PG) has been extensively discussed. Herein, we introduce a novel method of PG with piggyback jejunal interposition reconstruction single-tract reconstruction (PJIRSTR) for Siewert II and III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) with a diameter <4 cm, and investigate its safety, practicability, and short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of this procedure. Method The clinical data of 33 patients with Siewert II or Siewert III AEG who underwent PJIRSTR in Shanxi Cancer Hospital from July 2013 to November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Data of clinicopathologic characteristics, postoperative and surgical outcomes, and follow-up findings, especially postoperative reflux esophagitis and postoperative reflux symptoms, were analyzed.Results The mean operation time was 136.7±22.4 (range: 110-180) min, including 32.3 ± 5.0(range: 26-45) min of the digestive tract reconstruction; the mean estimated blood loss was 87.6±18.1 mL; the mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 14.7±5.1; and the mean duration of postoperative hospitalization was 7.5±1.2 days. The early complication rate was 9% (n=3), including one case each of anastomotic bleeding, incision infection, and ileus. The late complication rate was 6% (n=2): both patients had gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (Visick grade II), but only one patient had Los Angeles grade B reflux esophagitis by endoscopy. Conclusion PJIRSTR is a safe, feasible, and innovative reconstruction method after PG for patients with Siewert II and III AEG with a diameter <4 cm. Furthermore, it has excellent efficiency in terms of preventing reflux symptoms and reflux esophagitis after surgery.

Severe reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy successfully treated by transposition of the jejunojejunal anastomosis: a report of two cases

Background Reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy is often difficult to treat. In this report, we describe two cases of reflux esophagitis that were refractory to medical therapy and successfully treated by transposition of the jejunojejunal anastomosis. Case presentation Case 1: A 66-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy and cholecystectomy for gastric cancer, and Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstruction was performed. The pathological diagnosis was T4aN3aM0 stage IIIC. Five months later, esophagogastroduodenoscopy identified reflux esophagitis. Although he was treated with various oral medications and was hospitalized six times, he lost 19 kg of weight. Finally, the patient was reoperated 3 years postoperatively. Intraoperative findings showed that there was no evidence of recurrence or severe adhesions that could have caused obstruction, and the anastomotic distance between the esophagojejunostomy and the jejunojejunostomy was approximately 40 cm. The jejunojejunostomy was re-anastomosed to increase the distance to 100 cm. Two years and 6 months after the reoperation, there was no recurrence of reflux esophagitis, and the patient’s weight increased by 14 kg. Case 2: A 68-year-old woman underwent total gastrectomy and cholecystectomy for gastric cancer, and RY reconstruction was performed. The pathological diagnosis was T4aN0M0 stage IIB. Similar to Case 1, the patient was diagnosed with reflux esophagitis 5 months later. She lost 23 kg of weight and was reoperated at 6 months postoperatively. Intraoperative findings showed that there was no evidence of recurrence or severe adhesions, and transposition of the jejunojejunostomy was performed to increase the distance between anastomoses from 40 to 100 cm. Two years and 8 months after the reoperation, there was no recurrence of reflux esophagitis, and her weight increased by 15 kg. Conclusions Transposition of the jejunojejunostomy was an effective treatment for medication-resistant severe reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy.

The role of nitric oxide in the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease against the backdrop of obesity

Today gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occupies a leading position among chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of GERD in people with normal BMI ranges from 15 to 20%, with obesity – from 50% to 100%. The basis of GERD is a violation of the motor – evacuation function of the gastroesophageal zone, which is accompanied by a steady relaxation of the antireflux barrier. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in this process. The aim of this work is to study the level of nitric oxide in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease on the background of obesity and to assess its impact on the course of the disease. Materials and methods. The study involved 80 young people. Questionnaire was conducted using the GERDQ questionnaire, BMI, serum nitric oxide level by Griss spectrophotometric method with sulfanilic acid and 1-naphthylamine, FGDS to determine the severity of reflux esophagitis. Study participants were divided into 3 groups: patients with GERD with concomitant obesity, patients with GERD without concomitant pathology, the control group, which consisted of almost healthy individuals. Analyzing the obtained results, a significant increase in the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood of patients with GERD with concomitant obesity, compared with patients with GERD without concomitant pathology and the control group. There is a direct correlation between the level of nitric oxide in the blood and the severity of reflux esophagitis in patients with GERD with concomitant obesity. Further study of the role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of comorbid GERD and obesity will contribute to the development of improved methods for diagnosis, treatment and prediction of disorders.