Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for a Patient With Perforated Esophageal Epiphrenic Diverticulum After Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report

Abstract

A 58-year-old man who underwent cadaveric kidney transplantation twice presented to hospital with a perforated epiphrenic diverticulum. Computed tomography revealed epiphrenic diverticulitis and right pleural effusion. Upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy showed an epiphrenic diverticulum full of food residue. He was transferred to our hospital, where we performed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy under general anesthesia in the supine position before thoracoscopy. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed in the semi-prone position under 6–10 mmHg artificial pneumothorax via the right thoracic cavity. We performed subtotal esophagectomy to remove sources of infection because the esophageal wall surrounding the diverticulum was too thick to close or to perform diverticulectomy. A cervical esophagostomy was constructed after the thoracic procedure. The patient was managed with continuous hemodiafiltration and administered immunosuppressants and steroids to preserve the transplanted kidney. Continuous hemodiafiltration was stopped on postoperative day (POD) 4. The patient was discharged from the intensive care unit on POD 10 and transferred to the original hospital on POD 24 for rehabilitation. The second operative stage was performed on POD 157 at our hospital. We performed gastric tube reconstruction via the ante-sternal route and anastomosed the tube to the cervical esophagus. The postoperative course was uneventful; the patient was transferred to the original hospital on POD 15 after the second operation. Minimally invasive surgery was sufficient to treat perforated epiphrenic diverticulum while preserving the transplanted kidney. We recommend completely removing the source of infection and reducing surgical invasiveness to preserve the transplanted kidney in cases of esophageal perforation following kidney transplantation.