J. C. Del Grande

Resultados tardios da operação de Heller associada à fundoplicatura no tratamento do megaesôfago: análise de 83 casos

BACKGROUND: Retrospective study of the late results of the Hellers cardiomyotomy and fundoplication for the treatment of the megaesophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Were studied 83 patients with a follow-up from one to 186 months (average 40.0±47.4 months). The fundoplications used were in three plans in 15.7% and posterior in 83.1%. The main pre-operatory complain was disphagia followed by regurgitation and loss of weight. Chagas, Disease as the etiology was confirmed in 72.3% of the patients. RESULTS: In the follow-up 55.4 % of the patients were assymptomatic, 34.9% complained of sporadic dysphagia, 14.4% of heartburn, 8.4% of regurgitation and 2.4% did not changed the dysphagia, these being re-operated and had improvement the symptoms. Gastro-esophageal reflux was noted in 8.4% of the patients. Other late complications were par-esophageal hernia, sliping of the fundoplication, Barrett esophagus and cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The necessity of a long-term clinical and endoscopical follow-up, even after surgery, owing to the possibility of late complications, especially cancer was emphasized. The late results are good in relation to the dysphagia. Myotomy is proposed as an alternative to patients with advanced megaesophagus with bad clinical conditions who can not be submitted to an esophagectomy.

When did the esophagus start shrinking? The history of the short esophagus

Even though the history of this condition extends for almost 100 years, the short esophagus (SE) is still one of the most controversial topics in esophageal surgery with its existence still denied by some distinguished surgeons. We reviewed the evolution behind the diagnosis and treatment of the SE and the persons who wrote its history, from the first descriptions by radiologists, endoscopists, and surgeons to modern treatment.

Human cadavers as an experimental model for esophageal surgery.

The use of cadavers in experimental esophageal surgery is reviewed. Items useful to cadaveric studies such as post-mortem changes, biosafety, ethics, and legislation are discussed. Tactics used in minimally invasive procedures (thoracoscopy and laparoscopy) are shown. Cadaveric use in studies concerning esophagectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal atresia, Boerhaaves syndrome, and Mallory-Weiss tears are discussed. It is concluded that human bodies represent a good but underused model for esophageal surgery.

Postprandial proximal gastric acid pocket and gastric pressure in patients after gastric surgery

Background  An unbuffered postprandial proximal gastric acid pocket (PPGAP) has been demonstrated in normal individuals (NI) and patients with gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The role of gastric anatomy and gastric motility in the physiology of the PPGAP remains elusive. This study aims to analyze the correlation of PPGAP with proximal gastric pressure after gastric surgery.

Obstrução do íleo terminal por mucosa gástrica heterotópica

Heterotopic gastric mucosa situated in the small bowel distal to the Treitz suspensory ligament is very rare, except in Meckels diverticulum and in intestinal duplications. There are two forms of this disease, congenital and acquired. The former is secondary to inflammatory bowel disease. The main difference between these forms is histological, although determining diverse physiopathological aspects. A case of a 34 year old man with heterotopic gastric mucosa in the terminal ileum manifested by intestinal obstruction is reported. He was treated surgically by enterectomy of two small bowel segments, both reconstructed by primary suture. His postoperative course was remarkable. The histopathologic study showed a typical pattern of the acquired type because of the presence of antral the antral mucosa and intense fibrosis. That is probably related to intestinal tuberculosis, but was not histologically confirmed. Individual and family recent history of pulmonary tuberculosis corroborates the suspicion. This is a unique report in the literature, among 28 other heterotopic gastric mucosa situated in the jejunum and ileum.A mucosa gastrica ectopica localizada no intestino delgado, distal ao ligamento de Treitz e muito rara, excetuando-se a encontrada habitualmente no diverticulo de Meckel e na duplicacao intestinal. Existem formas congenita e adquirida, sendo esta ultima secundaria a processos inflamatorios intestinais. As diferencas entre estas formas sao basicamente histologicas, determinando no entanto aspectos fisiopatologicos distintos. Apresentamos caso de mucosa gastrica ectopica em paciente de 34 anos de idade, manifestada por obstrucao do ileo terminal. Submetido a duas enterectomias e anastomoses primarias, apresentou boa evolucao pos-operatoria. O aspecto histopatologico, tipico da forma adquirida com mucosa antral e intensa fibrose, foi provavelmente relacionado a quadro recente de tuberculose intestinal, porem nao confirmada histologicamente. O antecedente de tuberculose pulmonar recente na familia, aliado a linfoadenomegalia mesenterica encontrada a operacao, sustentam tal suspeita. Este e fato inedito na literatura dentre as outras 28 publicacoes de heterotopia gastrica no jejuno e ileo.

Gastric fundus tension before and after division of the short gastric vessels in a cadaveric model of fundoplication

Short gastric vessels (SGV) division is a controversial topic in antireflux surgery. Some surgeons do not divide the SGV routinely to perform a fundoplication; however, excessive tension of the gastric fundus (GF) forces this procedure necessary in some cases. This study aims to evaluate in a cadaveric model of Nissen fundoplication: (i) the correlation of GF tension with anatomic parameters; and (ii) the effect of SGV division on GF tension. In total, 23 fresh cadavers (18 men, mean age 62 years) were studied. The abdominal esophagus was dissected, and the GF transposed to a limit of 3 cm to the right border of the esophagus. A dynamometer was attached to the GF and the tension recorded. Cadavers were grouped according to the presence or absence of tension. SGV were divided and GF tension measured again. The presence or absence of initial GF tension was correlated to: (i) number of SGV; (ii) length of the GF; (iii) distance between His angle and the first SGV; and (iv) size of the spleen. The mean GF pressure was 0.5 N +/- 1.0 (0-2.5) before SGV division and 0.1 N +/- 0.3 (0-1.5) after SGV division (P= 0.002). Initial tension was absent in 12 (52.2%) cases. GF tension did not correlate with any of the anatomic parameters. Our results show that: (i) GF tension does not correlate with anatomic parameters; and (ii) SGV division affects GF tension significantly.

Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in esophageal motility and the role of the mucosa. An experimental study

Esophageal motor abnormalities are frequently found in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The role of bile in reflux-induced dysmotility is still elusive. Furthermore, it is questionable weather mucosal or muscular stimulation leads to motor dysfunction. The aims of this study were to analyze (i) the effect of bile in the amplitude of esophageal contractions; and (ii) the effect of mucosal versus muscular stimulation. Eighteen guinea pig esophagi were isolated, and its contractility assessed with force transducers. Three groups were studied. In group A (n= 6), the entire esophagus was incubated in 100 µmL ursodeoxycholic acid for 1 hour; in group B (n= 6) the mucosal layer was removed and the muscular layer incubated in 100 µmL ursodeoxycholic acid for 1 hour; and in group C (n= 6) (control group) the entire esophagus was incubated in saline solution. In all groups, five sequential contractions induced by 40 mm KCl spaced by 5 minutes were measured before and after incubation. Contractions amplitudes before incubation were 1.319 g, 0.306 g, and 1.795 g, for groups A, B, and C, respectively. There were no differences between groups A and C (P= 0.633), but there were differences between groups A and B (P= 0.039), and B and C (P= 0.048). After incubation amplitude of contraction were 0.709 g, 0.278 g, and 1.353 g for groups A, B, and C, respectively. Only group A showed difference when pre and post-stimulation amplitudes were compared (P= 0.030). Our results show that (i) bile exposure decreases esophageal contraction amplitude; and (ii) the esophageal mucosa seems to play an important role in esophageal motility.

Hemorragia digestiva por fístula de artéria subclávia direita anômala com o esôfago

Bleeding from an arterio-esophageal fistula is a rare and nearly lethal condition and surgical treatment is the only curative option. We report a case of bleeding from a fistula from an aberrant right subclavian artery to the esophagus. Diagnosis was made only at necropsy, despite of three previous laparotomies. This anatomical variation is found in 0.5% of the general population. Development of a communication between this artery and the esophagus, secondary to aneurysmatic dilatation or to prolonged nasogastric intubation, as probably occurred with this patient, is a extremely rare condition. Surgical treatment depends on the early recognition of clinical signs of the arterio-esophageal communication, before the onset of systemic complications of hypovolemic shock.Bleeding from an arterio-esophageal fistula is a rare and nearly lethal condition and surgical treatment is the only curative option. We report a case of bleeding from a fistula from an aberrant right subclavian artery to the esophagus. Diagnosis was made only at necropsy, despite of three previous laparotomies. This anatomical variation is found in 0.5% of the general population. Development of a communication between this artery and the esophagus, secondary to aneurysmatic dilatation or to prolonged nasogastric intubation, as probably occurred with this patient, is a extremely rare condition. Surgical treatment depends on the early recognition of clinical signs of the arterio-esophageal comunication, before the onset of systemic complications of hypovolemic shock.