ObjectiveTo study the gastric function of vagus-preserved patients after esophagectomy, and to evaluate the significance of keeping vagus and the value of gastric tube with vagal-sparing esophagectomy. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 15 patients in West China Hospital between June 2012 and January 2014. They were divided into two groups. There were 8 patients with 6 males and 2 females with average age of 57 years ranging from 44 to 77 years, in a gastric pull-up group with vagal-sparing esophagectomy. There were 7 patients with 6 males and 1 female at average age of 60 years ranging from 50 to 70 years in a gastric tube group with vagal-sparing esophagectomy. We chose 8 patients with 7 males and 1 female at average age of 62 years ranging from 47 to 69 years as a control group with a classical esophagectomy and a gastric pull-up. Then we evaluated the function of the vagal nerves and gastric reservoir after vagal-sparing esophagectomy. ResultsAll 23 surgeries were successfully performed. In subjective symptom, diarrhea was rare in the vagal-sparing esophagectomy patients and statistically more common in patients with a standard esophagectomy. Dumping and early satisfaction situation were similar among 3 groups. The 60 minutes gastric emptying rate was much better in the vagal-sparing group than that in the control group. And the esophageal manometry of the vagal-sparing group was statistically hihger than that in the control group. The gastroscope showed that the incidence of reflux esophagitis in the vagal-sparing group was statistically lower than that of the control group. There was no statistic difference in weight in the vagus-preserved group before and after the surgery while the weight decreased statistically in the control group. ConclusionsFor both esophageal replacement and gastric tube, preserving the vagus can reduce the functional dyspepsia after esophagectomy.
Objective To explore the feasibility，safety and clinical applicability of combined complete thoracoscopicand laparoscopic esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Methods Clinical data of 34 patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent combined complete thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in the Departmentof Thoracic Surgery of our hospital from January 2012 to June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 33 males and1 female with their age of 63 （41-76） years. Results One patient received conversion to laparotomy and 1 patient diedpostoperatively. Mean operation time was 362.1 （300-560） minutes，including 90.6 （60-220） minutes for thoracoscopicprocedure in 34 patients and 61.1 （45-85） minutes for laparoscopic procedure in 33 patients. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 206.5 （100-500） ml. Average number of dissected lymph nodes was 18.0 （13-31） for each patient with positivemetastatic rate of 44.1% （15/34）. Postoperative pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 33 patients and smallcell carcinoma in 1 patient. Postoperative pathological staging was stageⅠB in 1 patient，stageⅡA in 1 patient，stageⅡB in 15 patients，stageⅢA in 11 patients，stageⅢB in 3 patients and stageⅢC in 3 patients. Postoperative hospital stay was 15.2 （6-35） days. Two patients received bedside bronchoscopic sputum suction. Postoperative complications occurred in32.4% （11/34） of all patients，including pulmonary infection in 4 patients （11.8%），respiratory failure in 2 patients （5.9%），chylothorax in 1 patient （2.9%），cervical anastomotic leak in 4 patients （11.8%） and hoarseness in 2 patients （5.9%）. We followed up 33 patients for 1-16 months. Two died，Two were lost. The other 29 patients survived. Conclusion Combined complete thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy is a minimally invasive，feasible and safe surgical procedure for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma with quick postoperative recovery，and is worthy of furtherclinical application.
Abstract： Objective To explore the value of serum Dickkopf-related protein 1 （DKK1）for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer， and provide theoretical evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer. Methods A total of 145 patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University between October 2009 and April 2011 were included in this study and divided into four groups. There were 72 patients in the esophageal cancer group （54 males and 18 females with their median age of 60.4 years），13 patients in the precancerosis group （9 males and 4 females with their median age of 58.6 years），30 patients in the benign esophageal lesion group （23 males and 7 females with their median age of 56.4 years），and 30 healthy people in the volunteer group （19 males and 11 females with their median age of 58.6 years）. Serum DKK1 protein concentration was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Receiver operating characteristics （ROC） curve was drawn to determine the cutoff level with optimal diagnostic accuracy. Results Serum DKK1 protein levels were significantly higher in the esophageal cancer group and precancerosis group than those in the volunteer group and benign esophageal lesion group ［（37.5±2.8） μg/L， （19.7±2.7） μg/L vs. （5.7±0.8） μg/L， （6.5±0.8） μg/L，t=47.391， P＜0.05］. There was no statistical difference in serum DKK1 protein level between the volunteer group and benign esophageal lesion group ［（6.5±0.8） μg/L vs. （5.7±0.8） μg/L， t=4.215，P=0.374］. When the level of serum DKK1 protein was 13.4 μg/L， the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of esophageal cancer were 74.1% and 96.7%， respectively. Conclusion Overexpression of serum DKK1 protein could be related to the pathogenesis and progression of esophageal cancer. DKK1 protein may be a potential serologic biomarker for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
目的 评价国产吻合器和闭合器在食管癌消化道重建术中的应用价值。 方法 回顾性分析2005年3月-2008年4月期间收治的387例食管癌手术患者的临床资料，根据不同消化道重建方式分为手工吻合组（n=172）和器械吻合组（n=215），对两组患者吻合时间、术中出血量及术后并发症发生情况进行对比分析。 结果 全组无手术死亡。器械吻合组和手工吻合组术中出血量的差别无统计学意义（Pgt;0.05），但前者的吻合时间、住院时间均少于后者（Plt;0.05）。手工吻合组术后吻合口出血多于器械吻合组（5.2%比1.4%，Plt;0.05），发生吻合口漏亦多于器械吻合组（6.4%比2.8%，Plt;0.05）。随访1.5～2年，排除失访患者后，器械吻合组吻合口狭窄发生率低于手工吻合组（4.6%比10.3%，Plt;0.05）。 结论 国产吻合器与和缝合器用于食管癌的消化道重建安全有效，值得在基层医院推广应用。
Esophagectomy and extensive lymphadenectomy still remain effective treatment strategies for patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma (EC). However,traditional esophagectomy is performed via open approaches and associated with significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy,various minimally invasive techniques have been introduced to esophagectomy by many medical centers,and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been widely developed in thoracic surgery. MIE has been proven to be a safe and feasible approach for the treatment of EC. Compared with open esophagectomy,MIE can reduce surgical blood loss,achieve complete and standardized tumor resection and lymph node dissection,and obtain equivalent long-term survival results. However,there are still controversies in some aspects of MIE for the treatment of EC,and the superiority of MIE has not been fully demonstrated. In this review,we focus on five aspects of MIE for the treatment of EC,including MIE techniques,perioperative outcomes,completeness and standard of tumor resection,long-term survival results and current problems.