Glyn G. Jamieson

A learning curve for laparoscopic fundoplication. Definable, avoidable, or a waste of time?

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether a learning curve for laparoscopic fundoplication can be defined, and whether steps can be taken to avoid any difficulties associated with it. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Although early outcomes after laparoscopic fundoplication have been promising, complications unique to the procedure have been described. Learning curve problems may contribute to these difficulties. Although training recommendations have been published by some professional bodies, there is disagreement about what constitutes adequate supervised experience before the solo performance of laparoscopic antireflux surgery, and the true length of the learning curve. METHODS The outcome of 280 laparoscopic fundoplications undertaken by 11 surgeons during a 46-month period was assessed prospectively. The experience was analyzed in three different ways: 1) by an assessment of the overall learning experience within chronologically arranged groups, 2) by an assessment of all individual experiences grouped according to the experience of individual surgeons, and 3) by a comparison of early outcomes of operations performed by the surgeons who initiated laparoscopic fundoplication with the early experience of surgeons beginning laparoscopic fundoplication later in the overall institutional experience. RESULTS The complication, reoperation, and laparoscopic to open conversion rates all were higher in the first 50 cases performed by the overall group, and in the first 20 cases performed by each individual surgeon. These rates were even higher in the initial first 20 cases, and the first 5 individual cases. However, adverse outcomes were less likely when surgeons began fundoplication later in the overall experience, when experienced supervision could be provided. CONCLUSIONS A learning curve for laparoscopic fundoplication can be defined. Experienced supervision should be sought by surgeons beginning laparoscopic fundoplication during their first 20 procedures. This should minimize adverse outcomes associated with an individuals learning curve.

Pharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum is a disorder of upper esophageal sphincter opening

Pharyngeal coordination, sphincter opening, and flow pressures during swallowing were investigated in patients with pharyngeal (Zenkers) diverticula. Fourteen patients with diverticula and 9 healthy age-matched controls were studied using simultaneous videoradiography and manometry. Pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter pressures were recorded by a perfused side hole/sleeve assembly. Temporal relationships among swallowing events, extent of sphincter opening during swallowing, and intrabolus pressure during bolus passage across the sphincter were measured. The timing among pharyngeal contraction and sphincter relaxation, opening, and closure did not differ between patients and controls. Sphincter opening was significantly reduced in patients compared with controls in sagittal (P = 0.0003) and transverse (P = 0.005) planes. Manometric sphincter relaxation was normal in patients. Intrabolus pressure was significantly greater in patients than in controls (P = 0.001). It is concluded that Zenkers diverticulum is a disorder of diminished upper esophageal sphincter opening that is not caused by pharyngosphincteric incoordination or failed sphincter relaxation. Incomplete sphincter opening is likely to cause dysphagia. Increased hypopharyngeal pressures during swallowing are probably important in the pathogenesis of the diverticulum.

Prospective double-blind randomized trial of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with division and without division of short gastric vessels.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether division of the short gastric vessels (SGVs) and full mobilization of the gastric fundus is necessary to reduce the incidence of postoperative dysphagia and other adverse sequelae of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Based on historical and uncontrolled studies, division of the SGVs has been advocated during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication to improve postoperative clinical outcomes. However, this modification has not been evaluated in a large prospective randomized trial. METHODS One hundred two patients with proven gastroesophageal reflux disease presenting for laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication were prospectively randomized to undergo fundoplication with (52 patients) or without (50 patients) division of the SGVs. Patients with esophageal motility disorders, patients requiring a concurrent abdominal procedure, and patients who had undergone previous antireflux surgery were excluded. Patients were blinded to the postoperative status of their SGVs. Clinical assessment was performed by a blinded independent investigator who used multiple standardized clinical grading systems to assess dysphagia, heartburn, and patient satisfaction 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Objective measurement of lower esophageal sphincter pressure, esophageal emptying time, and distal esophageal acid exposure and radiologic assessment of postoperative anatomy were also performed. RESULTS Operating time was increased by 40 minutes (median 65 vs. 105) by vessel division. Perioperative outcomes and complications, postoperative dysphagia, relief of heartburn, and overall satisfaction were not improved by dividing the SGVs. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure, acid exposure, and esophageal emptying times were similar for the two groups. CONCLUSION Division of the SGVs during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication did not improve any clinical or objective postoperative outcome.

Structural abnormalities of the cricopharyngeus muscle in patients with pharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum

Recent manometric and radiological studies suggest that the upper oesophageal sphincter has poor compliance in patients with a pharyngeal (Zenkers) diverticulum. To test the hypothesis that this phenomenon is related to structural changes within the cricopharyngeus muscle we examined, histologically, muscle strips from 14 patients with a Zenkers diverticulum and compared them with control tissue obtained at autopsy from 10 non‐dysphagic individuals. The cricopharyngeus muscle from patients and controls differed from inferior constrictor muscle by virtue of type 1 fibre predominance and greater fibre size variability. Ragged red fibres and nemaline bodies are a normal finding in the cricopharyngeus. Marked differences were observed in the cricopharyngeus muscle of Zenkers patients which demonstrated fibro‐adipose tissue replacement and fibre degeneration. It is concluded that these structural changes may account for the observed diminished upper oesophageal sphincter opening and dysphagia in patients with Zenkers diverticulum.

Relations among autonomic nerve dysfunction, oesophageal motility, and gastric emptying in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Recent studies suggest that vagal nerve dysfunction may be important in the aetiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Delayed oesophageal transit and slowed gastric emptying occur frequently and may also be of pathogenic importance. In 48 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease we studied the prevalence of and relations between autonomic nerve dysfunction (as assessed by cardiovascular reflex tests) and oesophageal transit, oesophageal motility, gastric emptying, and endoscopic grade of oesophagitis. Of the 48 patients, 21 (44%) had abnormal autonomic nerve function, which was predominantly parasympathetic. Oesophageal transit was delayed in 28% of the patients and gastric emptying of the solid component of the meal was delayed in 46%. Oesophageal transit was significantly (p less than 0.007) slower in patients with abnormal autonomic nerve function. The percentage of synchronous oesophageal contractions was related to the score for autonomic nerve dysfunction (r = 0.40, p less than 0.05). There was no significant relation of autonomic nerve dysfunction to either delayed gastric emptying or endoscopic grade of oesophagitis. We conclude that in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease there is a high prevalence of parasympathetic nerve dysfunction which relates to delayed oesophageal transit and abnormal peristalsis and may therefore be of pathogenic importance.

Infected arterial grafts.

The case notes of 664 patients who underwent surgery and arterial grafting between the years of 1955 and 1973 at the University of Rochester Medical Center have been analyzed. There were 15 cases of infected grafts-a rate of 2.3%. The outcome of the infection was determined in 12 of these cases. Four patients had no surgical treatment and all 4 died. Three patients had simple ligations with excision and one died, one had an above knee amputation and one continues to have a draining sinus. Five patients had axillofemoral bypasses. Two died and three patients are alive and well. The role of prophylactic antibiotics is briefly discussed and the influence of possible etiological factors is also considered.

Division of Short Gastric Vessels at Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication: A Prospective Double-Blind Randomized Trial With 5-Year Follow-Up

ObjectiveTo determine whether division of the short gastric vessels at laparoscopic fundoplication confers long-term clinical benefit to patients. Summary Background DataDividing the short gastric vessels during surgery for gastroesophageal reflux is controversial. This prospective randomized study was designed to determine whether there is a benefit in terms of patient outcome at a minimum of 5 years after primary surgery. MethodsBetween May 1994 and October 1995, 102 patients undergoing a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication were randomized to have their short gastric vessels either divided or left intact. By September 2000, 99 (50 no division, 49 division) patients were available for follow-up, and they all underwent a detailed telephone interview by an independent and masked investigator. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the groups at 5 years of follow-up in terms of the incidence of epigastric pain, regurgitation, odynophagia, early satiety, inability to belch, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, nocturnal coughing, and nocturnal wheezing. There was also no difference between the groups in the incidence of heartburn when determined by either yes/no questioning or a 0-to-10 visual analog scale. There was no difference between the groups in terms of the incidence and severity of dysphagia determined by yes/no questioning, 0-to-10 visual analog scales, or a composite dysphagia score. There was a significantly increased incidence of flatus production and epigastric bloating and a decreased incidence of ability to relieve bloating in patients who underwent division of the short gastric vessels. ConclusionsDivision of the short gastric vessels during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication does not improve any measured clinical outcome at 5 years of follow-up and is associated with an increased incidence of “wind-related” problems.

Patterns of treatment failure and prognostic factors associated with the treatment of esophageal carcinoma with chemotherapy and radiotherapy either as sole treatment or followed by surgery .

PURPOSE The records of patients with esophageal cancer who were treated with a combined modality therapy were reviewed to determine the effects of simultaneously administered chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) at sites of recurrence and the relationship between treatment outcome and clinicopathologic variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred seventeen patients were treated with fluorouracil (800 mg/m2) [corrected] and cisplatin (80 mg/m2) combined with either 36 Gy (36 patients) or 54 to 60 Gy (35 patients) of RT as sole therapy. Forty-six patients underwent surgery after they had received chemotherapy and 36 Gy of RT as initial treatment. Patients with either squamous cell cancer (SCC) or adenocarcinoma were included. RESULTS Complete endoscopic regression after an initial 36 Gy of RT and chemotherapy occurred in more than 50% of patients and in both tumor types. Relief of dysphagia accompanied tumor regression. Forty-two tumors were resected, and 11 showed a complete histologic response. Significant associations were demonstrated between enhanced survival and a diagnosis of SCC, a complete endoscopic response to initial chemotherapy and RT, and a tumor length of less than 5 cm. Multivariate analyses suggested that tumor length and complete endoscopic response were independent prognostic variables. The survival rate of patients treated by resection or radical-dosage RT was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS The relief of dysphagia demonstrates the palliative value of chemotherapy and RT in both tumor types. The similar survival rates of patients with SCC or adenocarcinoma treated either surgically or with high-dose combined therapy (54 to 60 Gy) emphasize the need to evaluate the role of surgery and combined treatment in randomized studies.

Minimally Invasive Versus Open Esophagectomy for Patients With Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with open esophagectomy (OE) has been shown to have clinical advantages, but selection bias is present. METHODS All patients undergoing MIE or OE for cancer between 1999 and 2007 were eligible for analysis. To minimize selection bias, only patients who also met the selection criteria for the thoracoscopic approach were included in the open esophagectomy group. RESULTS Fifty-six patients underwent MIE and 98 OE. No significant differences in demographics or pathologic data between groups occurred, with the exception of thoracic epidural analgesia (OE 98%, MIE 71.1%, p < 0.001), and neoadjuvant treatment (OE 50.5%, MIE 71.4%, p = 0.016). Morbidity and in-hospital death were not significantly different. Duration of surgery was longer in MIE (250 vs 209 minutes, p < 0.001) and blood loss less (320 mL vs 857 mL, p < 0.001). Intensive care unit stay was shorter in MIE (3.0 vs 6.8 days, p = 0.022). The relative risk (RR) for in-hospital death was 0.57 (p = 0.475) if the patients underwent MIE. After adjusting for thoracic epidural analgesia, the RR was 0.29 (p = 0.213) for the MIE group. The RR for surgical morbidity was 1.47 (p = 0.154) for patients undergoing MIE. Neoadjuvant treatment increased the RR for surgical morbidity to 1.78 (p = 0.028). No difference between the two groups concerning survival occurred. CONCLUSIONS The MIE is comparable with the OE. In MIE, neoadjuvant treatment increased the risk of surgical morbidity. Thoracic epidural analgesia in MIE reduced the risk of in-hospital death and should be considered for all patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Malignant Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Malignant tracheoesophageal fistula occurs infrequently in patients with esophageal and lung cancer. However, the occurrence of this entity is very distressing for the patient since it leads to rapid deterioration and death due to overwhelming pulmonary infection. A review of cases reported in the recent world literature is presented. The only effective treatment is to exclude the fistula from the alimentary tract. This may be achieved by intubation or operation. Intubation is probably associated with a lower mortality but is less certain to control the fistula. Single-stage operative exclusion and bypass is preferred under ideal circumstances. However, the patients condition may dictate that a two-stage operation be performed--first, operative exclusion of the fistula and then, if the patients respiratory and nutritional state improves sufficiently, restoration of alimentary continuity at a later date.