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The incidence of distal esophageal adenocarcinoma and primary proximal gastric carcinoma has increased substantially in the past 15 years, particularly in North America and in some European countries. Patients with curatively resected cancer consistently have a 10 to 20% 5-year survival rate. Radiation therapy alone should not be recommended. Based on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) trial in patients with predominantly squamous cell carcinoma, chemoradiotherapy (fluorouracil [5-FU]/cisplatin + 50 Gy of radiotherapy) has been shown to be superior in this setting. The most active single agents against squamous cell carcinoma are cisplatin, 5-FU, bleomycin, paclitaxel, mitomycin, mitoguazone, vinorelbine, and methotrexate. The most active agents against adenocarcinoma include paclitaxel and probably mitomycin, mitoguazone, and cisplatin. To my knowledge, there is currently no effective postoperative adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both). Evidence that preoperative therapy can prolong survival of patients with potentially resectable carcinoma of the esophagus is lacking. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy can result in an approximately 25% complete pathologic response of the primary tumor. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy, however, results in substantial morbidity and even mortality. A recent single-institution, randomized study comparing surgery alone with preoperative 5-FU/cisplatin/vinblastine and concurrent radiotherapy demonstrated no difference in median survival (18 months). Nevertheless, combined-modality therapy holds promise. Multiple combined-modality strategies have been formulated and will be investigated in the next few years.

This article discusses the perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy and is part of the American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). The primary objectives of this article are the following: (1) to address the perioperative management of patients who are receiving vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, and require an elective surgical or other invasive procedures; and (2) to address the perioperative use of bridging anticoagulation, typically with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin (UFH). A secondary objective is to address the perioperative management of such patients who require urgent surgery. The recommendations in this article incorporate the grading system that is discussed in this supplement (Guyatt G et al, CHEST 2008; 133:123S-131S). Briefly, Grade 1 recommendations are considered strong and indicate that the benefits do (or do not) outweigh risks, burden, and costs, whereas Grade 2 recommendations are referred to as suggestions and imply that individual patient values may lead to different management choices. The key recommendations in this article include the following: in patients with a mechanical heart valve or atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism (VTE) at high risk for thromboembolism, we recommend bridging anticoagulation with therapeutic-dose subcutaneous (SC) LMWH or IV UFH over no bridging during temporary interruption of VKA therapy (Grade 1C); in patients with a mechanical heart valve or atrial fibrillation or VTE at moderate risk for thromboembolism, we suggest bridging anticoagulation with therapeutic-dose SC LMWH, therapeutic-dose IV UFH, or low-dose SC LMWH over no bridging during temporary interruption of VKA therapy (Grade 2C); in patients with a mechanical heart valve or atrial fibrillation or VTE at low risk for thromboembolism, we suggest low-dose SC LMWH or no bridging over bridging with therapeutic-dose SC LMWH or IV UFH (Grade 2C). In patients with a bare metal coronary stent who require surgery within 6 weeks of stent placement, we recommend continuing aspirin and clopidogrel in the perioperative period (Grade 1C); in patients with a drug-eluting coronary stent who require surgery within 12 months of stent placement, we recommend continuing aspirin and clopidogrel in the perioperative period (Grade 1C). In patients who are undergoing minor dental procedures and are receiving VKAs, we recommend continuing VKAs around the time of the procedure and co-administering an oral prohemostatic agent (Grade 1B); in patients who are undergoing minor dermatologic procedures and are receiving VKAs, we recommend continuing VKAs around the time of the procedure (Grade 1C); in patients who are undergoing cataract removal and are receiving VKAs, we recommend continuing VKAs around the time of the procedure (Grade 1C).

Anesthesia and surgery both affect the architecture of sleep. Aside from the postoperative effects of anesthesia and surgery, sleep deprivation and fragmentation have been shown to produce apneas or desaturations even in patients without presumed sleep apnea. Recent epidemiologic data have placed the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) at about 5% among Western countries. The problem is further hindered by the difficulty in diagnosing OSAS, as patients with OSAS may present for surgery without a prior diagnosis. Clinical suspicion for OSAS may first be recognized intraoperatively. Adverse surgical outcomes appear to be more frequent in OSAS patients. Immediate postoperative complications may intuitively be attributed to the negative effects of sedative, analgesic, and anesthetic agents, which can worsen OSAS by decreasing pharyngeal tone, and the arousal responses to hypoxia, hypercarbia, and obstruction. Later events are, however, more likely to be related to postoperative rapid eye movement (REM) sleep rebound. In the severe OSAS patient, REM sleep rebound could conceivably act in conjunction with opioid administration and supine posture to aggravate sleep-disordered breathing. REM sleep rebound has also been suggested to contribute to mental confusion and postoperative delirium, myocardial ischemia/infarction, stroke, and wound breakdown. Although the data to guide the perioperative management of patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS is scarce, heightened awareness is recommended. The selected use of therapy with nasal continuous positive airway pressure before surgery and after extubation may be beneficial.1. Identify common sleep architectures affected by anesthesia and surgery in the perioperative period. 2. State a perioperative complication in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome patients. 3. Identify perioperative interventions and management techniques that best facilitate improved obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patient care.