Occult insulinoma after oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer-diagnostic challenges

Hypoglycaemia in the post-operative period is mainly iatrogenic (related to anti-hyperglycaemic drugs), but can be explained by an endogenous hyperinsulinemic state. In the context of previous gastrointestinal surgery, a form of dumping syndrome can mask hypoglycaemia from an underlying cause, such as an insulinoma. The authors present a clinical case of a male patient who underwent oesophageal surgery for an oesophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma and developed hypoglycaemic symptoms in the post-operative period, caused by an undiagnosed insulinoma. This case report portraits the diagnostic investigation of a hypoglycaemia state in the post-operative period, narrowing to the workup of an endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia and provides a summary of insulinoma’s treatment. An insulinoma should always be considered in a patient with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia, even with a history of oesophago-gastric surgery.

P-OGC13 Chest drainage after oesophageal resection: A systematic review

Background Modern enhanced recovery protocols discourage drain use due to negative impacts on patient comfort, mobility, and recovery, and lack of proven clinical benefit. After oesophagectomy, however, drains are still routinely placed. This review aimed to assess the evidence for, and how best to use chest drains after oesophageal surgery. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase and Cochrane collaboration databases. Studies reporting outcomes for different types or uses of thoracic drainage, or outcomes related to drains after trans-thoracic oesophagectomy were included. Studies were collated into domains based on variations in number, position, type, removal criteria, diagnostic use and complications of drains. Methodological quality was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa and Jadad scores. Results Among 434 potentially relevant studies, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria and these included 2564 patients. Studies that examined the number of drains showed pain reduction with a single drain compared to multiple drains (3 studies, n = 103), and transhiatal placement compared to intercostal (6 studies, n = 425). Amylase levels may aid diagnosis of anastomotic leak (9 studies, n = 888). Narrow calibre Blake drains may effectively drain both air and fluid (2 studies, n = 163). Drain removal criteria by daily drainage volumes of up to 300ml did not impact subsequent effusion rates (2 studies, n = 130). Complications related directly to drains were reported by 3 studies (n = 59). Conclusions Available evidence on the impact of thoracic drainage after oesophagectomy is limited, but has the potential to negatively affect outcomes. Further research is required to determine optimum drainage strategies.

Chest drainage after oesophageal resection: A systematic review

Summary Background Modern enhanced recovery protocols discourage drain use due to negative impacts on patient comfort, mobility, and recovery, and lack of proven clinical benefit. After oesophagectomy, however, drains are still routinely placed. This review aimed to assess the evidence for, and how best to use chest drains after oesophageal surgery. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase and Cochrane collaboration databases. Studies reporting outcomes for different types or uses of thoracic drainage, or outcomes related to drains after trans-thoracic oesophagectomy were included. Studies were collated into domains based on variations in number, position, type, removal criteria, diagnostic use and complications of drains. Methodological quality was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa and Jadad scores. Results Among 434 potentially relevant studies, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria and these included 2564 patients. Studies that examined the number of drains showed pain reduction with a single drain compared to multiple drains (3 studies, n = 103), and transhiatal placement compared to intercostal (6 studies, n = 425). Amylase levels may aid diagnosis of anastomotic leak (9 studies, n = 888). Narrow calibre Blake drains may effectively drain both air and fluid (2 studies, n = 163). Drain removal criteria by daily drainage volumes of up to 300 mL did not impact subsequent effusion rates (2 studies, n = 130). Complications related directly to drains were reported by 3 studies (n = 59). Conclusion Available evidence on the impact of thoracic drainage after oesophagectomy is limited, but has the potential to negatively affect outcomes. Further research is required to determine optimum drainage strategies.

714 UTILITY, TECHNIQUES, AND OUTCOMES FOR THORACIC DRAINAGE AFTER OESOPHAGECTOMY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The routine use of post-operative drains in surgery continues to evolve as part of modern practices. Modern enhanced recovery protocols eschew using abdominal drains due to their impact on patient comfort, mobility, and recovery. This change in practice has not applied to thoracic drainage after oesophagectomy, where one or multiple drains are routinely placed. The aim of this study was to determine the evidence for, and how best to use drains during oesophageal surgery. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase and Cochrane collaboration databases until Jan 25th, 2021. All studies which compared outcomes for different types or uses of thoracic drainage, or reported outcomes directly related to chest drains in oesophageal surgery were included. Studies were collated into domains based on variations in number, position, type, removal criteria, diagnostic use and complications of drains. Methodological quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa and Jadad Scores. Results 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies compared drain numbers, three showed similar outcomes and pain reduction using one. A single study showed that another, ‘anastomotic drain’ aided diagnosis and reduced leak mortality. Transhiatal drains had less pain and similar outcomes compared to intercostal drains. Drain fluid amylase aids leak diagnosis, however, accuracy requires drains to remain for 6 days. Removal of drains with daily volumes of less than 300 mL did not impact effusion rate. Complications can arise from drains with a 7% chance of drains migrating into the lumen of a leak and a risk of drain-site metastasis. Conclusion Drain use is a small facet of oesophageal surgery that can have a significant impact on outcomes. There is no evidence for non-drain use. A single transhiatal drain reduces pain without impacting on outcomes. Drains can have a role in diagnosing and managing anastomotic leaks, however, to be accurate drains have to stay in situ for longer. This extends patients discomfort and moves away from ERP trends and other surgical specialities.

712 NASOGASTRIC TUBE DRAINAGE AND PYLORIC INTERVENTIONS FOR DELAYED GASTRIC EMPTYING AFTER OESOPHAGEAL RESECTION: A NATIONAL ANALYSIS OF SPECIALIST UK CENTRES

Nasogastric tubes (NGTs) and pyloric intervention in oesophagectomy are used to lessen the impact of gastric tube distention and delayed gastric emptying. However, their utility remains unclear, with mixed evidence and some studies suggesting they may increase morbidity and patient discomfort. We performed a national survey of tertiary oesophageal surgery centres to assess current practice and surgeon equipoise for a potential prospective trial. Methods An electronic survey was distributed to all oesophageal resection centres in England, Wales and Scotland. Included questions assessed centres’ use of NGTs, current practice for removal and dietary progression, and use of pyloric interventions. Variations in practice were assessed, and compared to nationally reported annual centre volumes and length of stay. Results Seventy-nine percent (31/39) of all centres responded to the survey. All centres reported routinely using an NGT. Most centres (19/31, 61%) did not perform pyloric intervention or routine post-operative radiological assessment (22/31, 71%). Criteria for NGT removal and dietary progression was highly variable, with every centre reporting different practice criteria. There were no trends for practices when comparing high vs low volume centres, or above vs at-or-below median length of stay. 21/31 (68%) centres were willing to take part in a trial to assess NGT use and pyloric interventions. Conclusion NGTs remain standard practice despite mixed evidence for their efficacy and an absence of standardisation in their use. Use of pyloric intervention varies widely, with no clear link to outcomes. Surgeons recognise the need for a trial to assess requirement for NGTs and pyloric intervention after oesophageal resection.

Experiences of being a family caregiver to a patient treated for oesophageal cancer—1 year after surgery

Purpose There is a need to put family caregivers on the cancer survivorship research agenda. Therefore, the aim of this is study is to explore the experiences of being a family caregiver to a patient treated for oesophageal cancer. Method This qualitative study was based on the ongoing nationwide and prospective Oesophageal Surgery on Cancer patients – Adaptation and Recovery study (OSCAR) including patients surgically treated for oesophageal cancer in Sweden and their closest family caregiver. One year after the patient’s surgery, each family caregiver received a self-report questionnaire kit to fill in. For the purpose of this study, the responses to the open-ended question “Is there anything else you would like to share?” were used and analysed by conducting thematic analysis. Results In total, 112 responses to the open-ended question were transcribed and analysed. The text rendered three themes: Discontinued support from healthcare—mostly a positive experience before surgery and in the acute survivorship phase. However, after discharge from the hospital, the family caregiver felt as though they were left alone, fully responsible for the patient’s care. A changed life—unprepared for life-changing situation after the patient received the cancer diagnosis. A feeling that nothing will ever be the same and like your sense of self is lost. Psychological distress—was described as a feeling of being alone. Family caregivers felt invisible and no longer important to family and friends. The patient was the one that mattered. Conclusion This study indicates that patients and family caregivers would benefit from a more family-centred healthcare, where the patients’ as well as the caregivers’ perspectives would be acknowledged.

Modified Oesophago-Gastric Dissociation (M-OGD) — a technical modification

Adhesions and fibrosis following failed primary surgery for severe gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in neurologically impaired children (NI) can render mobilization of the lower oesophagus and oesophago-jejunal anastomosis a technically demanding exercise both at open surgery and laparoscopy. This paper presents the Modified Oesophago-Gastric Dissociation (M-OGD) as a less complex technical modification of the original Total Oesophago-Gastric Dissociation (TOGD). The stomach is detached from the oesophago-gastric junction with an articulated 5-mm stapler, leaving a 5-mm strip of stomach attached to the oesophagus. An end-to-side isoperistaltic oesophago-jejunostomy is created between the gastric stump and the isoperistaltic jejunal Roux loop. A jejuno-jejunal anastomosis restores bowel continuity. Between May 2018 and February 2020, M-OGD was performed on 3 NI patients with a weight of 9–27.3 kg (median = 14 kg). Median age at surgery was 60 months (18–180), median surgical time 170 min (146–280), median re-feeding time was 3 days (2–5), and median length of stay was 20 days (11–25). All patients healed primarily and after a median follow-up of 3 months, there were no problems related to the oesophago-jejunal anastomosis. M-OGD reduces the difficulties of redo oesophageal surgery following failed anti-reflux procedures, with a safer oesophago-jejunal anastomosis and a good long-term outcome.

Using multidimensional scaling in model choice for congenital oesophageal atresia: similarity analysis of human autopsy organ weights with those from a comparative assessment of Aachen Minipig and Pietrain piglets

Swine models had been popular in paediatric oesophageal surgery in the past. Although being largely replaced by rodent models, swine experienced a revival with the establishment of minipig models. However, none of them has ever been investigated for similarity to humans. We conducted a pilot study to determine whether three-week old Pietrain piglets and three-month old Aachen Minipigs are suitable for experimental paediatric oesophageal atresia surgery. We tested the operation's feasibility, performed a necropsy, weighed organs, measured organ length and calculated relative weights and lengths, and measured laboratory parameters. We used multidimensional scaling to assess the similarity of the swine breeds with previously published human data. Pietrain piglets had a higher a priori bodyweight than Aachen Minipigs (Δ = 1.31 kg, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37–2.23, p = 0.015), while snout-to-tail length was similar. Pietrain piglets had higher absolute and relative oesophageal lengths (Δ = 5.43 cm, 95% CI: 2.2–8.6; p = 0.0062, [Formula: see text] = 0.0083 and Δ = 11.4%, 95% CI: 5.1–17.6; p = 0.0025, [Formula: see text] = 0.0053). Likewise, absolute and relative small intestinal lengths were higher in Pietrains, but all other parameters did not differ, with the exception of minor differences in laboratory parameters. Multidimensional scaling revealed three-week old Pietrain piglets to be similar to two-month old humans based on their thoracoabdominal organ weights. This result indicates three-week old Pietrain piglets are a suitable model of paediatric oesophageal atresia surgery, because clinically many procedures are performed at around eight weeks age. Three-month old Aachen Minipigs were more dissimilar to eight-week old humans than three-week old Pietrain piglets.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the prevention and management of tracheal and oesophageal anastomotic complications

OBJECTIVES Failure of anastomotic healing is a morbid complication after airway or oesophageal surgery. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used extensively in the management of complex wound-healing problems. We demonstrate the use of HBOT to rescue at-risk anastomoses or manage anastomotic failures in thoracic surgery. METHODS Retrospective review of 25 patients who received HBOT as part of the management of tracheal or oesophageal anastomotic problems during 2007–2018. HBOT was delivered at 2 atm with 100% oxygen in 90-min sessions. RESULTS Twenty-three patients underwent airway resection and reconstruction while 2 patients underwent oesophagectomy. There were 16 (70%) laryngotracheal and 7 (30%) tracheal resections. Necrosis at the airway anastomosis was found in 13 (57%) patients, partial dehiscence in 2 (9%) patients and both in 6 (26%) patients. HBOT was prophylactic in 2 (9%) patients. Patients received a median of 9.5 HBOT sessions (interquartile range 5–19 sessions) over a median course of 8 days. The airway anastomosis healed in 20 of 23 (87%) patients. Overall, a satisfactory long-term airway outcome was achieved in 19 (83%) patients; 4 patients failed and required reoperation (2 tracheostomies and 1 T-tube). HBOT was used in 2 patients after oesophagectomy to manage focal necrosis or ischaemia at the anastomosis, with success in 1 patient. Complications from HBOT were infrequent and mild (e.g. ear discomfort). CONCLUSIONS HBOT should be considered as an adjunct in the management of anastomotic problems after airway surgery. It may also play a role after oesophagectomy. Possible mechanisms of action are rapid granulation, early re-epithelialization and angiogenesis.