Endoscopic surgery for benign diseases and injuries of the esophagus (with commentary)

Abstract

To analyze the results of surgical treatment of patients with benign diseases and injuries of the esophagus. We summarized the experience of different endoscopic interventions in 159 patients with various benign diseases and perforation of the esophagus. Patients with achalasia (72 cases) underwent videolaparoscopic Geller's esophagomyotomy with anterior hemiesophagofundoplication by Dor. Video-assisted thoracoscopic extirpation of the esophagus with simultaneous or delayed esophagocolo/gastroplasty was performed in 56 patients with post-ambustial cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus. Patients with esophageal perforation (14 cases) underwent videolaparoscopic transhiatal mediastinal drainage. Esophageal leiomyoma has been excised through thoracoscopic (9 cases) or laparoscopic access (4 cases). Removal of esophageal diverticulum was made via VATS-access in 4 patients. Satisfactory early and remote results were achieved in all patients with achalasia. Mortality rate was 5.4% (3 out of 56 patients) and 14.3% (2 out of 14 patients) in groups of cicatricial esophageal stenosis and esophageal perforation respectively. Sutures failure after removal of the diverticulum and leiomyoma occurred in 2 and 1 patient respectively and has been successfully cured. Endoscopic technologies allow to perform successfully complex reconstructive interventions for dysphagia in patients with cicatricial esophageal stenosis and achalasia even at late stages, to remove benign tumors and diverticula of thoracic esophagus and provide adequate drainage of posterior mediastinum in case of esophageal perforation.