Improvement of surgical methods for the treatment of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus ­complicated by purulent mediastinitis

Aim. To improve surgical treatment outcomes of patients with spontaneous rupture of the esophagus complicated by purulent mediastinitis. Methods. Over the past 30 years, we have experience in the surgical treatment of 31 patients with spontaneous rupture of the esophagus complicated by purulent mediastinitis. Depending on the tactics and techniques of surgical treatment, we identified two groups of patients. The first group (n=8) consisted of patients operated with conventional techniques: thoracotomy, transpleural mediastinotomy according to Dobromyslov, suturing of the esophagus with drainage of the mediastinum and pleural cavities, blind mediastinal drainage. The second group (n=23) consisted of patients treated with programmed re-thoracotomy. Re-thoracotomy was performed along with the postoperative thoracotomy wounds. The delimited foci of purulent mediastinitis were opened and sanitized (necrotic tissues were excised and removed). Preventive hemostatic methods were used in the area of pressure ulcers from drainage tubes. Replacing and changing the position of the drainage tubes in the mediastinum was a strictly compulsory technique. Pus and necrotic soft tissue that appeared in the thoracotomy wound were subsequently eliminated by a device consisting of two titanium brackets connected by a lock embodied in the form of an oval ring during the wound suturing at the stage of programmed re-thoracotomy. The groups were comparable in age and comorbidities. The average diagnosis of spontaneous esophageal rupture took 3.5 days; the maximum time is 10 days. The statistical significance of differences in immune status indicators was assessed by using the Student's t-test and Pearson's 2 test. Results. A systematic approach using the tactical and technical surgical techniques developed by us (such as suturing esophageal wall defects regardless of the rupture time, multifunctional nasoesophagogastric tube installation; the imposition of a purse string suture to prevent reflux from the stomach into the esophagus; programmed re-thoracotomy using the method of temporary fixation of the ribs) allowed to reduce the number of complications, such as haemorrhage from the mediastinal vessels, by 3 times, sepsis 1.5 times, mortality almost 2 times. Conclusion. The introduction of patented techniques allowed to reduce the number of life-threatening complications and mortality in patients with spontaneous rupture of the esophagus complicated by purulent mediastinitis.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to an odontogenic infection: A case report

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis a clinical entity formed by the spreading of cervical infection from the dental and oropharyngeal structures through the deep cavities between the deep fascia on the neck to the mediastinum, pleural and pericardial spaces with necrosis of soft tissue and has a high mortality. Herein we present the case of a 73-year-old admitted to emergency department with septic clinic. The patient was diagnosed with descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to odontogenic infection. Although sternal irrigation, sternal debridement and mediastinal drainage were performed patient was died postoperative third day.

ENDOSCOPIC STENTING IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT EPIPHRENIC DIVERTICULUM AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC DIVERTICULECTOMY. CLINICAL CASE REPORT

Epiphrenic diverticulum, also known as a pulsion diverticulum, is a rare type of esophageal diverticulum occurring in the distal 10 centimeters of the esophagus. They are most commonly 4-10 cm above the gastric cardia representing 10% of all esophageal diverticula. Laparoscopic diverticulectomy has become the treatment of choice. This clinical case study is dedicated to minimally invasive treatment of recurrent epiphrenic diverticulum after laparoscopic diverticulectomy. A 74-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of dysphagia, regurgitation and halitosis. The examination revealed a 5 cm epiphrenic diverticulum with sings of inflammation. Laparoscopic transchiatal diverticulectomy, the Dor (anterior) fundoplication, cruroraphia and mediastinal drainage were performed. The patient was discharged on the 11-th postoperative day. The patient exhibited dysphagia relapse during a 3-month follow-up. Taking into account the previous surgical treatment and the habitus endoscopic esophageal stenting was chosen as the technique of choice for management. Under intravenous anesthesia a partially covered metal self-expandable stent 10 cm x 1.8 cm was inserted into the distal esophagus. Next day control fluoroscopy showed stable stent position and no evidence of leakage. The water-soluble contrast agent reached stomach freely. The patient was discharged on the 2nd post-operative day. Within 4 months after having a stent placed, the patient feels well and oral feeding is satisfactory. In terms of literature search we have not come across any reference to the post-epiphrenic diverticulectomy recurrence treatment, so the management was chosen individually based on the comorbid status of the patient. The installation of a partially covered metal self-expandable stent allowed to promptly eliminate dysphagia and design features enabled to achieve stent stable position. A partially covered metal self-expandable stent can be considered effective in the post-epiphrenic diverticulectomy recurrence treatment.

Application of mediastinal drainage tube in intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leakage for early diagnosis and effective treatment: a retrospective study

Background Intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most fatal complications after esophagectomy. In this study, we placed an additional drainage tube in the esophagus bed and evaluated its effect in early diagnosis and treatment of AL. Methods From January 2010 to August 2020, 312 patients with esophageal or cardia carcinoma underwent esophageal resection with intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. A total of 138 patients with only one pleural drainage tube were divided into the “Control Group” and 174 patients with a pleural drainage tube and an additional mediastinal drainage tube (MDT) were divided into the “Tube Group”. For all patients, the incidence of postoperative AL, the time to diagnosis, time to recovery, and patient outcome were analyzed. Results No significant differences were observed in the AL rate (P = 0.837) and postoperative pain between two groups. However, in the Tube Group, almost all the patients were diagnosed prior to the appearance of hyperpyrexia, which was considered as the earliest and most common symptom after AL. In the Tube Group, a significant decrease was observed in the incidence of incurable fistula, which required re-operation or variable treatments under gastroscopy when compared to the Control Group (P = 0.032). Finally, patients in the Tube Group showed reduced post AL hospital day (P = 0.015) and a lower mortality, however, when compared to the Control Group, no significant differences were observed (P = 0.188). Conclusions Placement of an MDT does not prevent AL, but it is an effective approach for earlier diagnosis of AL and facilitates fistula healing and patient recovery.

Application of Mediastinal Drainage Tube in Intrathoracic Esophageal Anastomotic Leakage for Early Diagnosis and Effective Treatment: A Retrospective Study

Background: Intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most fatal complications after esophagectomy. In this study, we tried to place an additional drainage tube in esophagus bed and evaluate its effect in early diagnosis and treatment of AL.Methods: From January 2010 to August 2020, a total of 312 patients, who suffered from esophageal or cardia carcinoma, underwent esophageal resection with intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. Among them, we identified 138 patients with only one pleural drainage tube as “Control Group” and 174 patients with a pleural drainage tube and an additional mediastinal drainage tube (MDT) as “Tube Group”. The incidence of postoperative AL, time to diagnosis, time to recovery, and patient outcome were analyzed.Results: There were no significant differences in the AL rate (P = 0.837) and postoperative pain between two groups. However, in the Tube Group, almost all the patients were definitely diagnosed prior to the appearance of hyperpyrexia, which was regarded as the earliest and most common symptom after AL. Moreover, in the Tube Group, there was significant decrease in the incidence of uncurable fistula, which required re-operation or variable treatments under gastroscopy, when compared to the Control Group (P = 0.032). Finally, patients in the Tube Group were associated with reduced post AL hospital day (P = 0.015) and lower mortality, although there was no significant difference (P = 0.188), than in the Control Group.Conclusions: Placement of a MDT can not prevent the AL, but it is an effective method to diagnose AL earlier and facilitate the fistula healing and patient recovery.

Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis in Covid- 19 Time

Introduction: Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis (DNM) is the fatal form of mediastinitis and mostly develops as a complication of peritonsillar abscesses or dental- odontogenic infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical and surgical feature of the patients with DNM who were managed in our Department during the period of general lockdown in Greece, between March 2020 and June 2020, because of the Covid19. Patients and Methods: During the period of general lockdown in Greece, 4 patients, mean age 46, 25 years (range 39-59), with DNM treated to our Department of General Thoracic Surgery. Primary odontogenic abscess occurred to 2 patients and peritonsillar abscess to other 2 of them. Diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) of the neck and chest. All patients underwent surgical drainage of abscesses of the involved cervical region and mediastinum by lateral cervicotomy and left thoracotomy in three of them and cervicotomy, and bilateral thoracotomy in one patient. Results: The delay between the occurrence of thoracic symptoms and mediastinal drainage varied from 1 to 3 days. The side of the thoracotomy depended on the involved mediastinal compartments and side of pleural effusion. The duration of mediastinal drainage varied from 12 to 20 days (mean: 17 days). One patient died of multiorgan failure related to post-op septic shock. Conclusion: Between January 2000 and January 2020, 21 patients with DNM were treated at our Department, whilst during the four - month of lockdown, four patients were treated. We concluded that the patients delay for dentistry recourse because of covid-19, result in the increased number of patients with DNM in the above period. Delayed diagnosis and inadequate drainage are the main causes of the high mortality rate of DNM. If one realistically hopes to avoid the high mortality rate, aggressive surgical drainage and debridement of the neck and drainage of the mediastinum via a posterolateral thoracotomy by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons is a must.

Deep cervical and paratracheal drainage for descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Background Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is life-threatening and extends into the deep cervical fascia including the pretracheal, perivascular and retrovisceral, and prevertebral spaces. Deep cervical and paratracheal drainage via a transcervical approach prevents the spread of infection into the deep mediastinum. It is effective for local neck drainage and important in the primary treatment of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Transthoracic mediastinal drainage is also effective for treating this condition. Methods Nine patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis were treated by deep cervical and paratracheal drainage via a transcervical approach at our institution from April 2007 to December 2017. Four patients with diagnoses of extensive descending necrotizing mediastinitis had progressive extension of abscesses into the lower mediastinum, below the level of the carina. The other five had localized descending necrotizing mediastinitis with infection in the upper mediastinum above the level of the carina. Results All 9 patients (4 with extensive and 5 with localized descending necrotizing mediastinitis) initially underwent deep cervical and paratracheal drainage via a transcervical approach, and all recovered. Two of the patients with extensive infection required no additional surgical intervention. Conclusions Fluid collections in the deep cervical fascia must be drained urgently. Deep cervical and paratracheal drainage via a transcervical approach effectively controls all types of descending necrotizing mediastinitis, and it is less invasive than transthoracic approaches via thoracotomy. However, a thoracotomy for mediastinal drainage must be considered if infection is not controlled by transcervical drainage. Thoracic surgeons and otolaryngologists must plan efficacious treatment before surgical procedures for descending necrotizing mediastinitis.

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis associated with descending necrotizing mediastinitis

We report a case of potentially fatal cervical necrotizing fasciitis and descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to deep neck infection in a 66-year-old male patient with no history or evidence of immunocompromising disorders. On admission, he had painful neck movements and the skin over his neck was red, hot and tender. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of his neck and chest showed evidence of air collection in soft tissues. He was treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and early massive cervical drainage. Prompt diagnosis by CT of the neck and chest enabled an early surgical treatment of cervical necrotizing fasciitis. Although acute mediastinitis is a fatal infection involving the connective tissues that fill the interpleural spaces and surround the median thoracic organs, an extensive cervicotomy combined with appropriate antibiotics can prevent the need for mediastinal drainage.