Gallstone formation and subsequent cholecystectomy after oncological gastric and esophageal resection.

Simultaneous cholecystectomy during gastric and oesophageal resection: A retrospective analysis and critical review of literature

The high mortality and morbidity associated with resection for oesophagogastric malignancy has resulted in a conservative approach to the postoperative management of this patient group. In August 2009 we introduced an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway tailored to patients undergoing resection for oesophagogastric malignancy. We aimed to assess the impact of this change in practice on standard clinical outcomes. Two cohorts were studied of patients undergoing resection for oesophagogastric malignancy before (August 2008 - July 2009) and after (August 2009 - July 2010) the implementation of the ERAS pathway. Data were collected on demographics, interventions, length of stay, morbidity and in-hospital mortality. There were 53 and 55 oesophagogastric resections undertaken respectively for malignant disease in each of the study periods. The median length of stay for both gastric and oesophageal resection decreased from 15 to 11 days (Mann-Whitney U, p<0.001) following implementation of the ERAS pathway. There was no significant increase in morbidity (gastric resection 23.1% vs 5.3% and oesophageal resection 25.9% vs 16.7%) or mortality (gastric resection no deaths and oesophageal resection 1.8% vs 3.6%) associated with the changes. There was a significant decrease in the number of oral contrast studies used following oesophageal resection, with a reduction from 21 (77.8%) in 2008-2009 to 6 (16.7%) in 2009-2010 (chi-squared test, p<0.0001). The introduction of an enhanced recovery programme following oesophagogastric surgery resulted in a significant decrease in length of median patient stay in hospital without a significant increase in associated morbidity and mortality.

To compare the long-term survival outcomes of Siewert II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) between transthoracic (TT) approach and transabdominal (TA) approach. The databases of Gastrointestinal Surgery Department and Thoracic Surgery Department in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2006 to 2014 were integrated. Patients of Siewert II AEG who underwent resection were retrospectively collected. (1) adenocarcinoma confirmed by gastroscopy and biopsy; (2) tumor involvement in the esophagogastric junction line; (3) tumor locating from lower 5 cm to upper 5 cm of the esophagogastric junction line, and tumor center locating from upper 1 cm to lower 2 cm of esophagogastric junction line; (4)resection performed at thoracic surgery department or gastrointestinal surgery department; (5) complete follow-up data. Patients at thoracic surgery department received trans-left thoracic, trans-right thoracic, or transabdominothoracic approach; underwent lower esophagus resection plus proximal subtotal gastrectomy; selected two-field or three-field lymph node dissection; underwent digestive tract reconstruction with esophagus-remnant stomach or esophagus-tubular remnant stomach anastomosis above or below aortic arch using hand-sewn or stapler instrument to perform anastomosis. Patients at gastrointestinal surgery department received transabdominal(transhiatal approach), or transabdominothoracic approach; underwent total gastrectomy or proximal subtotal gastrectomy; selected D1, D2 or D2 lymph node dissection; underwent digestive tract reconstruction with esophagus-single tube jejunum or esophagus-jejunal pouch Roux-en-Y anastomosis, or esophagus-remnant stomach or esophagus-tubular remnant stomach anastomosis; completed all the anastomoses with stapler instruments. The follow-up ended in January 2018. The TNM stage system of the 8th edition UICC was used for esophageal cancer staging; survival table method was applied to calculate 3-year overall survival rate and 95% cofidence interval(CI); log-rank test was used to perform survival analysis; Cox regression was applied to analyze risk factors and calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI. A total of 443 cases of Siewert II AEG were enrolled, including 89 cases in TT group (with 3 cases of transabdominothoracic approach) and 354 cases in TA group. Median follow-up time was 50.0 months (quartiles:26.4-70.2). The baseline data in TT and TA groups were comparable, except the length of esophageal invasion [for length <3 cm, TA group had 354 cases(100%), TT group had 44 cases (49.4%), χ²=199.23,P<0.001]. The number of harvested lymph node in thoracic surgery department and gastrointestinal surgery department were 12.0(quartiles:9.0-17.0) and 24.0(quartiles:18.0-32.5) respectively with significant difference (Z=11.29,P<0.001). The 3-year overall survival rate of TA and TT groups was 69.2%(95%CI:64.1%-73.7%) and 55.8% (95%CI:44.8%-65.4%) respectively, which was not significantly different by log-rank test (P=0.059). However, the stage III subgroup analysis showed that the survival of TA group was better [the 3-year overall survival in TA group and TT group was 78.1%(95%CI:70.5-84.0) and 46.3%(95%CI:31.0-60.3) resepectively(P=0.001)]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the TT group had poor survival outcome (HR=2.45,95%CI:1.30-4.64, P=0.006). The overall survival outcomes in the TA group are better, especially in stage III patients, which may be associated with the higher metastatic rate of abdominal lymph node and the more complete lymphadenectomy via TA approach.

The necessity of performing simultaneous cholecystectomy (simCCE) during esophagectomy remains controversial, as postoperative biliary complications may occur due to vagal denervation and anatomical alterations. However, the incidence and need for subsequent cholecystectomy (subCCE) in these patients remain unclear. This meta-analysis aims to provide a pooled estimate of gallstone formation and subCCE rates following esophagectomy for cancer. A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL. Studies reporting the incidence of symptomatic gallstones and subCCE after esophagectomy for cancer were included. A meta-analysis of proportions was conducted to estimate the pooled incidence of gallstone formation and subCCE rates. Random-effects models were applied, with heterogeneity quantified using the I2 statistic and further explored through meta-regression. Results were visually presented using forest plots. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. In five studies comprising 1557 patients the overall pooled subCCE proportion was estimated to be 2.0% (95% CI: 0.8%-5.1%). The pooled analysis of gallstone formation compromised four studies with 1493 patients and estimated a pooled gallstone formation rate of 9.3% (95% CI: 4.6%-18.1%). Among patients who developed gallstones (n=109), 14.5% (95% CI: 4.0%-41.0%) required a subCCE. High heterogeneity was observed among studies reporting subCCE rates, and most lacked data on surgical access and procedure-related complications. A risk-adapted approach to simCCE should be considered, and future prospective studies are needed to refine patient selection, explore medical prophylaxis strategies and evaluate long-term and patient-reported outcomes.

IntroductionThe SAGOC report (1997–2000) highlighted the high morbidity and mortality of oesophageal and gastric resections in Scotland. Since then, centralisation into higher volume units has only slowly occurred in Scotland....

Fast track methodology or enhanced recovery schemes have gained increasing popularity in perioperative care. While evidence is strong for colorectal surgery, its importance in gastric and oesophageal surgery has yet to be established. This article reviews the evidence of enhanced recovery schemes on outcome for this type of surgery. A systematic literature search was conducted up to March 2014. Studies were retrieved and analysed using predetermined criteria. From 34 articles reviewed, 18 eligible studies were identified: 7 on gastric and 11 on oesophageal resection. Three randomised controlled trials, five case-controlled studies and ten case series were identified. The reported protocols included changes to each stage of the patient journey from pre to postoperative care. The specific focus following oesophageal resections was on early mobilisation, a reduction in intensive care unit stay, early drain removal and early (or no) contrast swallow studies. Following gastric resections, the emphasis was on reducing epidural anaesthesia along with re-establishing oral intake in the first three postoperative days and early removal of nasogastric tubes. In the papers reviewed, mortality rates following fast track surgery were 0.8% (9/1,075) for oesophageal resection and 0% (0/329) for gastric resection. The reported morbidity rate was 16.5% (54/329) following gastric resection and 38.6% (396/1,075) following oesophageal resection. Length of stay was reduced in both groups compared with conventional recovery groups in comparative studies. The evidence for enhanced recovery schemes following gastric and oesophageal resection is weak, with only three (low volume) published randomised controlled trials. However, the enhanced recovery approach appears safe and may be associated with a reduction in length of stay.

Specialty Training and Mortality After Esophageal Cancer Resection

In the past, people only focused on surgical resection of gastric cancer to obtain satisfactory therapeutic effect, while the concept of function-preserving in gastric cancer surgery has not been emphasized. Gastric function-preserving surgery was originally performed by Japanese doctor Maki for surgical treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer. With the definition of early gastric cancer being accepted, the pylorus-preserving gastrectomy can be used continuously in the treatment of gastric cancer. Because of high incidence of early gastric cancer in Japan, a variety of application and research about function-preserving gastrectomy in other areas for treatment of early gastric cancer, such as proximal gastrectomy and jejunal interposition, segmental gastrectomy, gastric local resection and laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) at the same time, and regional or sentinel lymph node dissection were performed for the purpose of radical cure. Function-preserving gastrectomy for the treatment of early gastric cancer should include four important factors: (1) decrease of the scope of gastrectomy; (2)retaining pylorus; (3)retaining vagus nerve; (4)regional or sentinel lymph node dissection. The technique of sentinel lymph node can reduce the extent of gastric resection, avoid distal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy, and make gastric resection more suitable for laparoscopic partial gastrectomy, segmental resection, pylorus-preserving gastrectomy and proximal gastrectomy. Function-preserving gastrectomy has the advantage of improving the quality of life and has great potential in the treatment of early gastric cancer. However, the various treatment methods including LECS need strict technical standardization for confirmation of oncology safety. We need careful design, prospective multicenter randomized controlled trials to provide theoretical and technical support.

Intraluminal Endoscopic Surgery: The Scioto Returns

The aim of this study was to evaluate the worldwide trends in surgical techniques for esophageal cancer surgery by comparing it to our survey from 2007. In addition, new questions were added for gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. An international survey on surgery of esophageal and GEJ cancer was performed among surgical members of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus, the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Disease of the Esophagus, the International Gastric Cancer Association. Also, surgeons from personal networks were contacted. The participants filled out a web based questionnaire about surgical strategies for esophageal and gastroesophageal cancer. The overall response rate was 478/1147 (42%). The respondents represented 49 different countries and 6 different continents. The annual cumulative number of esophageal and gastric resections per surgeon was low (≤11) in 11%, medium (11-21) in 17%, and high (≥21) in 72% of respondents. In a subgroup analysis of esophageal surgeons the number of high volume surgeons increased from 45 to 54% over the past 7years. The preferred lymph node dissection was two-field in 86%. A gastric conduit was the preferred method of reconstruction in 95%. In 2014, the preferred approach to esophagectomy was minimally invasive transthoracic in 43%, compared with 14% in 2007. In minimally invasive transthoracic esophagectomy the cervical anastomosis was favored in 54% of respondents in 2014 compared with 87% in 2007. The preferred technique of construction of the cervical anastomosis was hand-sewn in 64% and stapled in 36%, whereas the thoracic anastomosis was stapled in 77% and hand-sewn in 23%. The preferred surgical approach for Siewert type 1 tumors (5-1cm proximal of the GEJ) was esophagectomy in 93% of respondents, whereas 6% favored gastrectomy and 3% combined a distal esophagectomy with a proximal gastrectomy. For Siewert type 2 tumors (1-2cm from the GEJ) an extended gastrectomy was favored by 66% of respondents, followed by esophagectomy in 27% and total gastrectomy in 7%. Siewert type 3 tumors (2-5cm distal of the GEJ) were preferably treated with gastrectomy in 90% of respondents, esophagectomy in 6%, and extended gastrectomy in 4%. The preferred curative surgical treatment of esophageal cancer is minimally invasive transthoracic esophagectomy with a two-field lymph node dissection and gastric conduit reconstruction. A strong worldwide trend toward minimally invasive surgery is observed. The preferred surgical treatment of GEJ tumors is esophagectomy for Siewert type 1 tumors and gastrectomy for Siewert type 3 tumors. The majority of surgeons favor an extended gastrectomy for Siewert type 2 tumors.

To assess the relationship between hospital volume and early postoperative outcome the incidence and early outcome of all esophagectomies, pancreaticoduodenectomies and gastric resections in Denmark from 1996 to 2004 was described. The National Patient Registry and discharge information from all hospital departments were analysed for all the operations due to a malignant diagnosis. All information was examined for postoperative length of stay and hospital mortality. During the study period 26 departments performed at least one esophageal resection, 13 departments performed at least one Whipple procedure and 37 departments performed at least one gastric resection. Four departments performed more than 20 esophageal resections per year, whereas one department performed more than 20 Whipple procedures and one more than 20 gastric resections per year. The overall mean length of stay was 21.6 days, 24 days and 18 days for esophageal, pancreatic and gastric resections, respectively, with no difference between high and low volume departments. The hospital mortality was 8.6%, 8.9% and 8.2%, respectively. The overall high mortality and long postoperative stay in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery in Denmark calls for improvement by regionalisation into 3-4 departments and monitoring of results.

BackgroundPerformance of gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients can lead to an increased incidence of cholecystolithiasis (CL) and a higher morbidity rate. However, the value of prophylactic cholecystectomy performed during gastric cancer surgery is still being debated.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective study on patients with gastric cancer who underwent subtotal or total gastrectomy, with preservation of the gallbladder or simultaneous cholecystectomy from January 2010 to March 2018.ResultsCholecystolithiasis occurred in 152 of 1691 (8.98%) patients after gastric cancer surgery, with 45 (2.67%) patients undergoing subsequent cholecystectomy. Postoperative body mass index (BMI) decrease > 5% in 3 months was an independent risk factor for cholecystolithiasis [BMI decrease > 5%/≤5%: OR (95%CI): 1.812 (1.225–2.681), p = 0.003). Gastrectomy method and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for both cholecystolithiasis [gastrectomy method (no-Billroth I/Billroth I): OR (95%CI): 1.801 (1.097–2.959), p = 0.002; diabetes mellitus (yes/no): OR (95%CI): 1.544 (1.030–2.316), p = 0.036] and subsequent cholecystectomy [gastrectomy method (no-Billroth I/Billroth I): OR (95%CI): 5.432 (1.309–22.539), p = 0.020; diabetes mellitus (yes/no): OR (95%CI): 2.136 (1.106–4.125), p = 0.024]. Simultaneous cholecystectomy was performed in 62 of 1753 (3.5%) patients. The mortality and morbidity rates did not differ significantly between the combined surgery group and the gastrectomy only group (8.1% vs. 8.9 and 1.6% vs. 2.2%, respectively, p > 0.05).ConclusionsProphylactic cholecystectomy may be necessary in gastric cancer patients without Billroth I gastrectomy and with diabetes mellitus. Simultaneous cholecystectomy during gastric cancer surgery does not increase the postoperative mortality and morbidity rates.

IntroductionThe high mortality and morbidity associated with resection for gastro-oesophageal malignancy has resulted in a conservative approach to the post-operative management of this patient group. In August 2009 an Enhanced...

The world-wide incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction has been on a rise in recent years. Surgical resection plays the most important role in the multimodal management for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction. However, due to distinct anatomical position, biological features, epidemiology and surgical teams, many controversies and different cognitions exist among surgeons from the East and the West, including tumor staging and classification, regional lymphadenectomy, surgical approaches and extents of esophageal and gastric resection. A new TNM classification has renewed the staging system, while traditional Siewert classification still decides clinical surgical strategies. With the development of minimally invasive surgery and early detection for the lesion, it is possible to perform the operations combining laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in the future. A multidisciplinary team from digestive surgery, oncology, radiology and anesthesiology will be essential for optimal diagnosis and management. Key words: Esophagogastric junction neoplasms, adenocarcinoma; Diagnosis; Therapy; Surgical procedures, operative

Patients who undergo gastric surgery are prone to form postsurgical gallstones. Debates still exist about the need for prevention and the selection of preventive methods. No studies had been reported comparing the efficacy of prophylactic ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and prophylactic cholecystectomy (PC) for lowering postsurgical gallstone formation and subsequent cholecystectomy (SC) in patients who have undergone gastric surgery. We did a systematic review to identify studies from PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database through 30 June 2020. We conducted direct and indirect comparisons of each prophylaxis using conventional and network meta-analysis. Studies with patients who have no history of cholecystectomy and who have not had preoperative gallstone were included. The excellent preventive effects of PC and UDCA were demonstrated for gallstone formation (odds ratio [OR] 0.05, [95% CI 0.01, 0.22] and 0.20, [95% CI 0.16, 0.24], respectively) and the need for SC (OR 0.10, [95% CI 0.02, 0.57] and OR 0.22, [95% CI 0.14, 0.35], respectively) than control group. The UDCA group showed a tendency to generate more gallstones (OR 3.74, [95% CI 0.88, 15.82]) and a greater need for SC (OR 2.19, [95% CI 0.47-10.14]) than did the PC group without statistical significance. Prophylaxis for gallstone formation may be needed for patients who undergo gastric surgery to reduce troublesome morbidities. Prophylactic UDCA seems to be a reasonable preventive method for postsurgical gallstone formation to ensure clinical benefit while reducing the burden of subsequent cholecystectomy for the patient as compared to a PC.