Objective To systematically review the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF) 61A/G polymorphism and the risk of esophageal carcinoma. Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, CJFD, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were electronically searched from inception to January 1st, 2013, to collect case-control studies on the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF) 61A/G polymorphism and the risk of esophageal carcinoma. Two reviewers independently identified the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 and Stata 12.0 software. Results A total of six studies involving 1 448 cases and 1 728 control subjects were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, there was no significant association between EGF 61A/G polymorphism and the risk of esophageal carcinoma (dominant model: AG+GG vs. AA: OR=1.22, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.65; and recessive model: GG vs. AG+AA: OR=1.35, 95%CI 0.94 to 1.94; AG vs. AA: OR=1.12, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.35; GG vs. AA: OR=1.43, 95%CI 0.83 to 2.47). The results of subgroup analysis grouped by ethnicity showed that, EGF 61A/G polymorphism increased the risk of esophageal carcinoma of the White population (dominant model: AG+GG vs. AA: OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.71; and recessive model: GG vs. AG+AA: OR=1.75, 95%CI 1.37 to 2.25; GG vs. AA: OR=1.93, 95%CI 1.47 to 2.55). However, it had no correlation to the risk of esophageal carcinoma of Asian population. Conclusion Current studies showed that, EGF 61A/G polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to esophageal carcinoma , but it may increase the risk of esophageal carcinoma in White population. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by more studies with large sample size.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of bilateral supraclavicular lymph node dissection after esophagectomy for patients with intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma. Methods A total of 197 patients with esophageal carcinoma but no obvious supraclavicular lymph node metastasis who underwent esophagectomy in Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University from March 1997 to September 2004 were included in this study. All the patients were divided into 2 groups， the control group and the study group. In the control group (non-supraclavicular lymphadenectomy group)， there were 96 patients including 62 males and 34 females with their age of 40-69 （55.2±3.1） years， who received 2-field lymphadenectomy (intrathoracic lymphatic drainage area and left paracardial lymph nodes) without supraclavicular lymph node dissection. In the study group (supraclavicular lymphadenectomy group)， there were 101 patients including 68 males and 33 females with their age of 41-68 （53.8±4.5） years， who received 3-field lymphadenectomy including intrathoracic lymphatic drainage area， left paracardial lymph nodes and bilateral supraclavicular lymph node dissection. Postoperative survival rate， lymph node metastasis rate， anastomotic site recurrence rate， and long-term supraclavicular lymph node metastasis rate were compared between the 2 groups. Results The overall 5-year survival rate of all the patients was 39.59% （78/197）. There was no statistical difference in 5-year survival rate between the 2 groups ［37.50％ （36/96） vs. 41.58％（42/101）， P＞0.05］. However， the 5-year survival rate of the patients with esophageal carcinoma in the upper third of the esophagus in the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group ［38.10％（8/21） vs. 29.17％ （7/24）， P＜0.05］. The intrathoracic lymph node metastasis rate （14.58% vs. 12.87%）， abdominal lymph node metastasis rate （6.25% vs. 7.92%）and anastomotic site recurrence rate （5.20% vs. 5.94%）of the control group and study group were not statistically different （P＞0.05）. However， long-term supraclavicular lymph node metastasis rate of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group （2.97％ vs. 8.33％， P＜0.05） Conclusion Bilateral supraclavicular node dissection can significantly increase postoperative survival rate and decrease long-term supraclavicular lymph node metastasis rate of patients with esophageal carcinoma in the upper third of the esophagus.
Objective To assess clinical outcomes of therapeutic video-mediastinoscopy （VMS）. Methods Clinical data of 82 patients undergoing VMS in Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from December 2008 to October 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them，24 patients received therapeutic VMS，including 18 men and 6 women with their median age of 56 （22-81） years. Three patients underwent operation through a neck incision，4 patients through a parasternal incision，and 17 patients through a lateral intercostal incision. Five patients received local anesthesia and basal anesthesia，and all the other patients received general anesthesia through single-lumen or double-lumen endotracheal intubation. Results Twelve patients with pleural effusion underwent pleural or lung biopsy and talc pleurodesis. Pathology examination showed malignant diseases in 11 patients and tuberculous pleural effusion in 1 patient. The median operation time was 35 （30-50） minutes，and postoperative hospital stay was 3-6 days. These patients were followed up for 1 month without recurrence of pleural effusion. Ten patients with mediastinal mass received pathological diagnosis and complete mass resection with their median operation time of 55 （30-270） minutes and median hospital stay of 7 （5-40） days. Two patients with hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral intercostal VMS sympathectomy. Their operation time was 60 minutes and 50 minutes respectively，and their hospital stay was 3 days. Postoperatively their sweating symptoms obviously resolved. They were followed up for 3 months，and their hands，feet and armpit were warm and dry. There was no in-hospital death in this group. Two patients （8.3%） had postoperative complications including 1 patient with phrenic nerve injury and another patient with pneumonia. Opioid analgesic drugs were not used postoperatively in 9 patients. Conclusion Therapeutic VMS is a safe，effective，minimally invasive and cosmetic procedure，but it is not suitable for resection of a large mediastinal mass.
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 summarize the technical characteristics and experience on the surgical treatment of esophagobrochial fistula induced by esophageal carcinoma and explore the safe and effective operation procedures. Methods This report retrospective1y summarized 12 cases of esophagobronchial fistula induced by esophageal cancer between January 2007 and November 2010 in Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. There were 9 male patients and 3 female patients with their mean age of 51.24 years (ranging from 37 to 62 years). Four types of surgical procedures were performed to patients according to their respective conditions: (1) Esophagectomy ＋“tunnel”esophagogastrostomy ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (2 patients)； (2) Esophagectomy ＋ stapled esophagogastrostomy ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (5 patients)； (3) Esophagectomy ＋ colon interposition for esophagus ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (4 patients)； (4) Esophagectomy ＋ esophagogastrostomy ＋ left pneumonectomy (1 patient). Results Among those 12 cases presenting to our hospital, 2 patients died during the postoperative period and the overall morality was 16.67%(2/12). One patient died of acute congestive heart failure on the 4th postoperative day after esophagectomy, “tunnel”esophagogastrostomy and left lower lobectomy of the lung for esophageal carcinoma directly invading the left lower bronchus, and another patient died of severe infection and renal failure on the 11th postoperative day after esophagectomy, stapled esophagogastrostomy and left upper lobectomy of the lung for esophageal carcinoma directly invading the left upper bronchus. Four patients developed mild empyema and 1 patienthad bronchial fistula after surgery, who finally recovered and were discharged after treatment of antibiotics and drainage. The postoperative morbidity was 41.67%（5/12）. All surviving patients were followed up from 1 month to 3 years. During follow-up, there was one death, and the other patients were alive without any clinical events. Conclusion Individualized surgical procedure is a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with esophagobronchial fistula induced by esophageal carcinoma.
Abstract： Objective To investigate diagnosis and treatment of concealed intrathoracic anastomotic leak of the esophagus. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 32 patients who presented with unexplained sepsis （temperature＞38 ℃ and elevated white blood cell count） after esophagectomy and intrathoracic anastomosis for esophageal carcinoma or gastric cardia carcinoma in Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Qingdao University from January 2006 to December 2010. All the patients underwent oral water-soluble contrast esophagogram and oral water-soluble contrast computerized tomography of the chest. None of the patients had any sign of contrast leak in these diagnostic examinations, but their chest computerized tomography all showed peri-anastomotic bubble and encapsulated effusion. Fifteen patients were treated as concealed intrathoracic anastomotic leak of the esophagus, including fasting, broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, prolonged gastrointestinal decompression and enteral nutrition via naso-intestinal feeding tube. The other 17 patients were not treated as anastomotic leak of the esophagus and only received broad spectrum antibiotic treatment. Results None of the 15 patients who were treated as concealed intrathoracic anastomotic leak finally developed anastomotic leak proved by oral water-soluble contrast esophagogram and computerized tomography of the chest （0%, 0/15）. Among the 17 patients who were not treated as anastomotic leak, fourteen patients developed anastomotic leak later （82.4%, 14/17）, 2 patients died of aorto-esophageal fistula and 3 patients died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Conclusion Peri-anastomotic bubble and irregular encapsulated effusion in oral water-soluble contrast esophagogram and computerized tomography of the chest should be considered as specific signs of concealed intrathoracic anastomotic leak of esophagus after esophagectomy and intrathoracic anastomosis. Patients with such signs should be treated as anastomotic leak.
Abstract: Esophageal carcinoma is a common worldwide malignancy for which the major treatment method is surgery, and there are various kinds of surgical procedures: (1) esophagectomy via right thoracic, abdominal and cervical approaches; (2) esophagectomy via left thoracic approach with anastomosis upon or under aortic arch； (3) esophagectomy via left thoracic approach with cervical anastomosis； (4) Ivor-Lewis； (5) esophageal pull-out via abdominal and cervical approaches with cervical anastomosis； (6) esophagectomy aided by videoassisted thoracoscope； (7) esophagectomy with jejunum or colon substitution. In this review, the current surgical treatments for esophageal carcinoma, perioperative management and novel surgical technique applications are summarized. Besides, the future of esophageal surgery is predicted including minimally invasive surgery, the improving standard of lymph node dissection, neoadjuvant therapy application, postoperative life quality and prospective artificial esophagus. Meanwhile, the remaining problems are discussed.
Abstract: Objective To explore the protection of pulmonary function by shortening the thoracic opening time inesophagectomy of esophageal carcinoma. Methods A retrospective review of the postoperative pulmonary function of 54 patients with upper esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy with triple incisions in Tongji Hospital from January 2007 to April 2010 was conducted. The patients were divided into two groups. Twentyeight patients including 25 males and 3 females aged at 58.9±8.2 years were in in the classic procedure group, accepting classical esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, there were 26 patients with squamous carcinoma and 2 with adenocarcinoma. Twentysix patients including 22 males and 4 females aged at 54.7±9.4 years were in the improved procedure group, accepting improved esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, 25 patients had squamous carcinoma and 1 had adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the difference of the thoracic opening time, onelung ventilation time during the operation, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide differential pressure(PaCO2), pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2), postoperative mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, postoperative oxygen support days, postoperative inhospital days, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and respiratory failure between the two groups. Results There was a statistical difference between the two groups in thoracic opening time (4.7±1.2 hours versus 2.6±0.8 hours, t=7.51, Plt;0.05) and onelung ventilation time (3.7±15 hours versus 23±0.8 hours, t=4.23, Plt;0.05). The PaO2 and SpO2 on the 1st day and the 3rd day after operation were significantly lower than those before operation in both the classic procedure group (on the 1st day after [CM(159mm]operation, PaO2: F=516.03, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=129.63, Plt;0.05; on the 3rdday after operation, PaO2: F=213.99, Plt;005; SpO2: F=61.84, Plt;0.05) and the improved procedure group (on the 1st day after operation, PaO2: F=423.56, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=184.24, Plt;0.05; on the 3st day after operation, PaO2: F=136.78, Plt;0.05). On the 1st day after operation, PaO2 and SpO2 in the improved procedure group were significantly higher than those in the classic procedure group (F=36.20, Plt;0.05; F=93.42, Plt;0.05), while PaCO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly lower than that in the classic procedure group (F=155.49, Plt;0.05). On the 3rd day after operation, PaO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly higher than that in the classic procedure group (F=29.23, Plt;0.05). The postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay time in the improved procedure group were significantly shorter than those in the classic procedure group (t=3.81, P=0.00; t=4.65, Plt;0.05). Conclusion Improved esophagectomy of carcinoma with triple incision approach can significantly shorten the thoracic opening time and onelung ventilation time during operation, which plays a good role in protecting pulmonary function and lowering the incidence of pulmonary complications.
Objective To summarize the experiences of applying gastric tube in minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), in order to assess its feasibility and safety. [WTHZ]Methods From June 2004 to August 2009, MIE was performed on 102 patients with esophageal carcinoma, including 71 males and 31 females whose age ranged from 37 to 79 years old with an average age of 61.1. Among them, 62 patients underwent thoracoscopic laparotomy 3-incision esophagectomy, 35 patients underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic 3-incision esophagectomy and 5 patients underwent thoracotomy and laparoscopic esophagectomy. Prevertebral reconstruction was performed on 58 patients and retrosternal reconstruction was performed on 44 patients. [WTHZ]Results All operations were performed successfully with a perioperative mortality rate of 2.0%(2/102) and a postoperative complication rate of 41.2%(42/102). The complications included anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture and lung infection. The complication rate was higher in the retrosternal group than in the prevertebral group (56.8% vs. 29.3%, Plt;0.05). Anastomotic leakage rate in the retrosternal group was also higher than that in the prevertebral group (34.1% vs. 6.9%, Plt;0.05). There was no significant difference in anastomotic stenosis, gastric fistula, dysfunction of gastric emptying, heart and lung complications, chylothorax and injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve between the two groups. [WTHZ]Conclusion Gastric tube is an effective way for reconstruction of the digestive tract after minimally invasive esophagectomy. The choice of prevertebral reconstruction or retrosternal reconstruction should be based on each individual patient.
Abstract: Objective To Evaluate the clinical outcome of gastric tube in radical surgeries to treat esophageal and cardial carcinoma. Methods From January to October 2008, 74 patients with esophageal or cardial carcinoma in Ruijin Hospital were enrolled in our study. Based on the surgical method, they were divided into the gastric tube group and the traditional way group. The gastric tube group had 46 patients, including 36 male patients and 10 female patients, whose age averaged 59.67±9.96 years (36 to 77 years). Among them, 31 patients had esophageal carcinoma with 1 upper, 23 middle and 7 lower esophageal carcinoma, and 15 patients had cardial carcinoma. In this group, 2 patients were treated with anastomosis in the left neck, 19 with anastomosis in the upper aortic arch, 10 with anastomosis in the lower aortic arch and 15 cardial carcinoma patients underwent radical resection. In the traditional way group, there were 28 patients, 25 male patients and 3 female patients, whose age averaged 59.17±11.33 years (37 to 86 years). In these patients, 22 had esophageal carcinoma with 1 in the upper esophagus, 17 in the middle esophagus, 4 in the lower esophagus; and 6 patients had cardial carcinoma. In this group, 2 patients were treated with anastomosis in the left neck , 17 with anastomosis in the upper aortic arch, 3 with anastomosis in the lower aortic arch, and 6 cardial carcinoma patients underwent radical resection. The rate of anastomotic leakage, operation time, and length of stay in hospital of these two groups were observed. Results All surgeries in the two groups were successfully performed. There was no anastomotic leakage case in the gastric tube group, while there were 4 pulmonary infection cases and 1 death case in the traditional way group. There was no statistically difference in the operation time (180.00±10.34 min vs. 185.00±6.23 min, t=1.669, P=0.078) and length of stay in hospital (16.78±9.98 d vs. 16.89±11.53 d, t=1.665, P=0.075) between the gastric tube group and the traditional way group. Conclusion Gastric tube has a good value in clinical application with fewercomplications and without prolonging operation and hospitalization time, which can surely better quality of life of the patients.