Anastomotic Leakage Following Resection of the Esophagus – Introduction of an Endoscopic Scoring System

Background Malignant tumors of the esophagus are the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Postoperative leakage of the esophago-gastrostomy leads to mediastinal sepsis, which is still associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to describe the endoscopic view of the different severity grades of an anastomotic leakage. MethodsPatients Between June 2016 and September 2018, 144 patients were operated upon in the Department of Surgery, University of Munich, Germany. Among these patients, 34 (23.6%) presented with a leakage of the anastomosis. EndoscopyIn this retrospective analysis the focus is to describe different patterns of leakage of the anastomosis.Results We studied 34 patients in whom post-esophagectomy leakage of the anastomosis was detected and treated with an endoluminal vacuum sponge system. The leakage healed in 26 of 29 patients (success rate 89.7%). With increasing severity of leakage, the treatment time and the in-hospital mortality correspondingly increased. Furthermore, the incidence of development of a fistula to the tracheobronchial system increased with higher grades of leakage.ConclusionsExact descriptions of leakage are necessary to compare the cases and to prove post-treatment improvement. This is, to our knowledge, the first publication to present a leakage grading score in patients after esophagectomy including reconstruction with a gastric tube. This new grading system needs to be tested in further analyses, with special focus on prospective analysis.

Anastomotic leakage following resection of the esophagus – Introduction of an endoscopic scoring system

Background Malignant tumors of the esophagus are the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Postoperative leakage of the esophago-gastrostomy leads to mediastinal sepsis, which is still associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to describe the endoscopic view of the different severity grades of an anastomotic leakage. MethodsPatients Between June 2016 and September 2018, 144 patients were operated upon in the Department of Surgery, University of Munich, Germany. Among these patients, 34 (23.6%) presented with a leakage of the anastomosis. EndoscopyIn this retrospective analysis the focus is to describe different patterns of leakage of the anastomosis. Results We studied 34 patients in whom post-esophagectomy leakage of the anastomosis was detected and treated with an endoluminal vacuum sponge system. The leakage healed in 26 of 29 patients (success rate 89.7%). With increasing severity of leakage, the treatment time and the in-hospital mortality correspondingly increased. Furthermore, the incidence of development of a fistula to the tracheobronchial system increased with higher grades of leakage. ConclusionsExact descriptions of leakage are necessary to compare the cases and to prove post-treatment improvement. This is, to our knowledge, the first publication to present a leakage grading score in patients after esophagectomy including reconstruction with a gastric tube. This new grading system needs to be tested in further analyses, with special focus on prospective analysis.

FORM24 electrode array and perioperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage in cochlear implant recipients with cochleovestibular malformations

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cochlear implant (CI) recipients with a cochleovestibular malformation (CVM) are at a higher risk of experiencing an intra-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher and, therefore are at greater risk of developing postoperative meningitis than are CI recipients with normal cochlear anatomy. To control CSF gushers, the FORM electrode array was developed. OBJECTIVES: To assess the ability of the FORM24 electrode array in managing intraoperative CSF gushers and preventing postoperative CSF leakage in a population of CI recipients. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary health care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All CIs in which a FORM24 was used between January 2014 and March 2018 were reviewed for demographic and safety results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Safety results were assessed as the intraoperative or postoperative presence of an episode of CSF leakage or meningitis. SAMPLE SIZE: 177 CI recipients. RESULTS: Thirty-six (20.3%) had a CVM and 141 had normal anatomy (79.7%). Of the 36 participants with a CVM, 20 (55.6%) experienced an intraoperative CSF gusher, all of which were resolved. No cases of postoperative leakage or meningitis were recorded after a mean follow-up time of 36 months. CONCLUSION: The FORM24 array is able to help surgeons stop intraoperative CSF gushers and prevent postoperative CSF leakage and meningitis in CI recipients with a CVM. LIMITATIONS: Further studies are needed. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

The value of CT imaging and CRP quotient for detection of postbariatric complications

Background The diagnosis of major complications seems to be more challenging in obese patients. We aimed to show the relevance of routinely assessed clinical and paraclinical parameters as well as the relevance of CT scans in the diagnosis of major complications after bariatric procedures. Methods All patients who underwent operations (primary or revisional) in a 3-year period were retrospectively studied after bariatric surgery with a specific focus on the routinely assessed clinical parameters (tachycardia, temperature), paraclinical parameters on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 3 (C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes), and additional computed tomography (CT) scan results for the diagnosis of leakage, bleeding, intraabdominal abscess, superficial abscess, and other complications. Results A total of 587 patients were examined. In this cohort, 73 CT scans were performed due to suspected intraabdominal or pulmonary complication according to our hospital standard operating procedure. In total, 14 patients (2.4%) had a major complication (Clavien-Dindo grade IV/V). Of those, 10 patients (1.7%) had postoperative leakage. While the correct leakage diagnosis was only found in 33% of the patients by CT scan, the overall specificity of CT as a diagnostic tool for all kinds of complications remained high. Especially for abscess detection, CT scan showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher risk of leakage development characterized by a doubling of postoperative CRP level (odds ratio 4.84 (95% confidence interval 2.01–11.66, p < 0.001)). To simplify the use of CRP as a predictive factor for the diagnosis of leakage, a cut-off value of 2.4 was determined for the CRP quotient (POD3/POD1) with a sensitivity of 0.88 and a specificity of 0.89. Conclusion CT diagnostic after bariatric surgery has a high positive predictive value, especially for intraabdominal abscess formation. Nevertheless, CT scan for the diagnosis of leakage has a low sensitivity. Thus, a negative CT scan does not exclude the presence of a leakage. Using the described CRP quotient with a cut-off of 2.4, the risk of early leakage can be easily estimated. Furthermore, in any uncertain case of clinically suspected leakage, diagnostic laparoscopy should be performed.

Association of Inadequate Caloric Supplementation with 30-Day Mortality in Critically Ill Postoperative Patients with High Modified NUTRIC Score

Modified NUTRIC (mNUTRIC) score is a useful assessment tool to determine the risk of malnutrition in patients on mechanical ventilation (MV). We identified associations between postoperative calorie adequacy, 30-day mortality, and surgical outcomes in patients with high mNUTRIC scores. Medical records of 272 patients in the intensive care unit who required MV support for >24 h after emergency gastro-intestinal (GI) surgery between January 2007 and December 2017 were reviewed. Calorie adequacy in percentage (Calorie intake in 5 days ÷ Calorie requirement for 5 days × 100) was assessed in patients with high (5–9) and low (0–4) mNUTRIC scores. In the high mNUTRIC score group, patients with inadequate calorie supplementation (calorie adequacy <70%) had higher 30-day mortality than those with adequate supplementation (31.5% vs. 11.1%; p = 0.010); this was not observed in patients with low mNUTRIC scores. This result was also confirmed through Kaplan–Meier survival curve (p = 0.022). Inadequate calorie supplementation in the high mNUTRIC score group was not associated with Intra-abdominal infection (p = 1.000), pulmonary complication (p = 0.695), wound complication (p = 0.407), postoperative leakage (p = 1.000), or infections (p = 0.847). Inadequate calorie supplementation after GI surgery was associated with higher 30-day mortality in patients with high mNUTRIC scores. Therefore, adequate calorie supplementation could contribute to improved survival of critically ill postoperative patients with high risk of malnutrition.

PS02.028: RESULTS OF ENDOSCOPIC VACCUM-ASSISTED CLOSURE THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE LEAKAGE AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY

Background Postoperative leakage after esophagectomy is associated with significant life-threatening complications. Recently, endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (E-VAC) has been introduced and successfully used as a new treatment option. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the E-VAC for the management of postoperative leakage. Methods A total of 22 patients were treated with either intraluminal or intracavitary E-VAC therapy for the management of postoperative leakage from May 2012 to April 2018. The location of leakage was intrathoracic in 17 patients, and cervical in 5. The size of defects was small (< 1 cm) in 8 patients, moderate (1∼2 cm) in 6, and large (> 2 cm) in 5. Outcomes of E-VAC therapy were analyzed retrospectively. Results Complete closure of postoperative leakage was achieved in 19 of 22 patients. The location and size of defects did not affect the success of VAC therapy (all P < 0.05, respectively). The median duration of E-VAC application was 14 days (range 2∼103), and a median of 3 E-VAC systems (range, 1∼14) were used. In 19 patients who were successfully treated with E-VAC, oral feeding was possible on median 15 days after the first day of treatment. There was no mortality related with postoperative leakage. Conclusion E-VAC might be a well-tolerated and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of various postoperative leakage after esophagectomy. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

RA04.07: A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR CERVICAL GASTROESOPHAGEAL ANASTOMOSIS DURING MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGECTOMY

Background Anastomotic leakage, fibrous stricture and gastroesophageal reflux are three major complications of gastroesophageal anastomosis, particularly in cervical anastomosis. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel cervical anastomosis technique (NA) by comparing it to the traditional side-to-side anastomosis (SS), and the end-to-side anastomosis using a circular stapler (CS) in terms of postoperative leakage, stricture and reflux. Methods A total of 390 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent a minimally invasive esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (192 with NA, 34 with SS and 164 with CS) in our institute from January 2013 and May 2016. The new anastomotic technique was improved from a type of side-to-side anastomosis technique which was reported by Collard et al. The difference of our new technique is that the part of the anastomotic stump was pushed into the tubular stomach. It let the end part of esophagus was embedded in the gastric tube while the end portion of the stomach was also reversed into the gastric tube (figure 1, 2, 3). The major postoperative complications including postoperative leakage, stricture and reflux were compared using three armed controlled study. Results With regard to the incidence of anastomotic leakage and reflux, the patients who underwent Jiang's anastomosis had a significantly lower rate than those in the SS group and CS group (Leaks: 1.0% vs. 8.8% and 8.5%, P = 0.025, 0.001; Reflux: 5.7% vs. 23.5% and 18.3%, P = 0.003, 0.001). The incidence of dysphagia was 10.4% with an occurrence rate of 1.5% for anastomotic strictures in the NA group. It was significant lower than that in the CS group (41.5% vs. 18.9%, P < 0.05) but not significantly different from that in SS group (11.8% vs. 2.9%). Conclusion The novel anastomotic technique remarkably reduced the incidence of gastroesophageal-anastomotic leakage, stricture and reflux and was a safe and effective technique for minimally invasive esophagectomy. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.