Emile Sarfati

Can the morbidity of esophagectomy be reduced by the thoracoscopic approach

Esophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. We have made a prospective study of the results of 29 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 20 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 22 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient, and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. There were five failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (one case), large tumor making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (two cases), and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (two cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in all but five patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (three cases), right purulent pleural effusion (one case), acute respiratory disease syndrome (one case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of five respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered difficult. Among the other complications, there were five anastomotic leakages and three cases of laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for esophageal dissection, especially with respect to difficult esophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.

Bone metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer: impact of early 131I-based detection on outcome

Bone is the second most frequent target of distant metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, and such forms carry a very poor prognosis. The impact of (131)I therapy in this setting is controversial. We describe the diagnostic circumstances and outcome of patients with bone metastases recently managed in two institutions. Among 921 consecutive thyroid cancer patients who had total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation between January 2000 and December 2004 and who were subsequently monitored, bone metastases had been diagnosed in 16 patients. In three cases, the bone metastases were non-functioning (negative (131)I uptake) . These patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy but progressed rapidly. The other 13 patients had functioning (positive (131)I uptake) bone metastases. In five of them, thyroid cancer was revealed by signs of distant involvement (bone pain, n = 4; dyspnea, n = 1). The bone metastases progressed in these five patients, despite local therapy and multiple courses of (131)I. The bone metastases in the remaining eight patients were discovered on the post-surgery (131)I therapy scan. Complementary radiological studies were negative except in one patient in whom one of the metastases (a 5 mm lesion of the right humerus) was visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six of these patients showed a good response to (131)I therapy, with (131)I uptake and Tg levels becoming undetectable or showing a sharp fall. One patient refused (131)I therapy; bone metastases became visible on MRI within 1 year and the Tg level rose tenfold. The disease progressed in one patient despite (131)I therapy. Post-surgical (131)I ablation can contribute to early detection of bone metastases at a time when the Tg level may be only moderately elevated, when other radiological studies are negative, and when the disease is potentially curable by (131)I therapy.

Lipome colique : cas clinique et revue de la littérature

Colonic lipoma is a rare benign tumor infrequently met in clinical practice. We report a case of symptomatic lipoma of the ascending colon in a 61-year-old woman. Diagnosis was suspected on CT scan. Colotomy with lipectomy was performed. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. Reviewing the literature and combining with our experience, we discuss the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon disease.

Oesophagogastrectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy for caustic injury

The justification for pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for extended duodenal and pancreatic caustic necrosis is still a matter of debate.

Similar Outcomes After Primary and Secondary Esophagocoloplasty for Caustic Injuries

BACKGROUND The main purpose of the study was to report a comparative experience with primary and secondary esophagocoloplasty for caustic injuries. Secondary esophagocoloplasty is the main rescue option after graft loss, but data in the literature are scarce. METHODS The operative characteristics, postoperative course, and functional outcomes of 21 secondary and of 246 primary esophagocoloplasty operations performed for caustic injuries between 1987 and 2006 were compared. Intraoperative events requiring significant changes in the planned operative strategy, such as graft ischemia or necrosis, were recorded. Statistical tests were performed in both cohorts to identify factors predictive of postoperative graft necrosis. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors predictive of functional failure after secondary esophagocoloplasty. RESULTS Operative mortality (5% vs 4%, p=0.56), morbidity (62% vs 59%, p=0.96), postoperative graft necrosis (14% vs 7%, p=0.16), and functional success (68% vs 70%, p=0.79) rates of the secondary and primary esophagocoloplasty operations were similar. Intraoperative graft ischemia at the time of secondary esophagocoloplasty was significantly associated with the risk of postoperative graft necrosis (p=0.015) and functional failure (p=0.046). At the time of primary esophagocoloplasty, intraoperative necrosis of the colon was the only independent predictive factor of postoperative graft necrosis (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Secondary esophagocoloplasty is a safe and reliable salvage option after primary graft loss in patients with caustic injuries. Delayed esophagocoloplasty should be considered if intraoperative colon necrosis occurs at the time of primary reconstruction.

Tracheobronchial Necrosis After Caustic Ingestion.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the management and outcome of tracheobronchial necrosis (TBN) after caustic ingestion. BACKGROUND Emergency pulmonary patch repair has been reported to be lifesaving in patients with caustic TBN. METHODS Patients who underwent management of caustic TBN between 1989 and 2013, were included. TBN was defined as early if present on admission and late if occurring thereafter. Operative outcomes, long-term survival, and functional outcomes were compared with those of 269 patients without TBN who underwent esophagectomy for caustic injuries. RESULTS Twenty patients were included (10 men; median age = 39 years). Early TBN was detected in 14 patients, and late TBN occurred in 7 patients, 8 days (range:: 6-10 days) after admission. TBN involved the left bronchus (n = 17; 85%), the carina (n = 10; 50%), the supracarinal trachea (n = 9; 45%), the right bronchus (n = 4; 20%), and the cervical trachea (n = 3; 15%). Seventeen patients underwent esophagogastrectomy, 2 underwent esophagectomy, and in 1 patient, resection was eventually abandoned. Pulmonary patch repair was performed in 16 patients (80%). Nine patients (45%) died and morbidity was 100%. In univariate analysis, late TBN (P = 0.017) and acid ingestion (P = 0.002) were predictors of mortality. All survivors underwent restoring colopharyngoplasty. Five-year survival (28%) and functional success (25%) rates were significantly impaired when compared with esophagectomy patients without TBN. CONCLUSIONS TBN is one of the most devastating complications of caustic ingestion. Pulmonary patch repair is technically simple and can be lifesaving in this difficult situation.Objective:The aim of this study was to describe the management and outcome of tracheobronchial necrosis (TBN) after caustic ingestion. Background:Emergency pulmonary patch repair has been reported to be lifesaving in patients with caustic TBN. Methods:Patients who underwent management of caustic TBN between 1989 and 2013, were included. TBN was defined as early if present on admission and late if occurring thereafter. Operative outcomes, long-term survival, and functional outcomes were compared with those of 269 patients without TBN who underwent esophagectomy for caustic injuries. Results:Twenty patients were included (10 men; median age = 39 years). Early TBN was detected in 14 patients, and late TBN occurred in 7 patients, 8 days (range:: 6–10 days) after admission. TBN involved the left bronchus (n = 17; 85%), the carina (n = 10; 50%), the supracarinal trachea (n = 9; 45%), the right bronchus (n = 4; 20%), and the cervical trachea (n = 3; 15%). Seventeen patients underwent esophagogastrectomy, 2 underwent esophagectomy, and in 1 patient, resection was eventually abandoned. Pulmonary patch repair was performed in 16 patients (80%). Nine patients (45%) died and morbidity was 100%. In univariate analysis, late TBN (P = 0.017) and acid ingestion (P = 0.002) were predictors of mortality. All survivors underwent restoring colopharyngoplasty. Five-year survival (28%) and functional success (25%) rates were significantly impaired when compared with esophagectomy patients without TBN. Conclusions:TBN is one of the most devastating complications of caustic ingestion. Pulmonary patch repair is technically simple and can be lifesaving in this difficult situation.

Esophagogastric Injuries by Liquid Chlorine Bleach in Adults

The authors report a retrospective study of 193 adults who ingested liquid chlorine bleach. This number represents 37% of caustic product ingestions treated in the department from 1975 to 1985. 85% of