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Background: The optimal postoperative surveillance protocol after esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer has still not been established. We investigated the risk factors for recurrence of esophageal cancer to devise an appropriate surveillance protocol. We focused on the appearance and worsening of symptoms to determine if additional imaging examinations should be performed., Study Design: We enrolled 416 patients with esophageal and esophagogastric junctional cancer who had undergone thoracoscopic esophagectomy at Tokai University Hospital. Outpatient visits for the patients are usually scheduled at least 4 times per year with CT imaging and blood biochemical examination. We evaluated the time to recurrence after esophagectomy, especially the correlation of this parameter with the appearance and worsening of symptoms during the postoperative outpatient follow-up., Results: Of the 416 patients, recurrence occurred in 127 patients (30.5%). The median time to recurrence was 6 months after esophagectomy; recurrence occurred within 24 months in 112 patients (88%), and 51 of these patients (40%) developed some new symptom(s) (symptomatic group) before the diagnosis of recurrence. The number of patients who developed recurrence within 6 months was significantly higher in the symptomatic group compared with that in the asymptomatic group (66.7% vs 46.0%, p = 0.02). The overall survival in the symptomatic group was significantly shorter than that in the asymptomatic group (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: We advocate an effective surveillance protocol depending on the appearance and worsening of symptoms to diagnose recurrence of esophageal cancer; we recommend routine imaging examinations every 6 months and clinical outpatient follow-up at even shorter intervals for the first 24 months after esophagectomy., (Copyright © 2023 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The azygos lobe is a relatively rare anatomical variation, and there have been no reports, until date, of thoracoscopic McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in a patient with an azygos lobe. The azygos lobe can be diagnosed by chest X-ray or CT, and is usually not associated with any symptoms. However, surgeons should be aware that transthoracic surgical procedures in patients with an azygos lobe could be associated with a high risk of complications. Case presentation: An 83-years-old man was brought to our emergency room with fever, severe headache, and difficulty in moving. MRI revealed a brain abscess, which was treated by abscess drainage and systemic antibiotic treatment. Further examinations to determine the cause of the brain abscess revealed esophageal cancer. In addition, CT revealed an azygos lobe in the right thoracic cavity. Although intrathoracic adhesions were anticipated on account of a previous history of bacterial pyothorax, we decided to perform esophagectomy via a thoracoscopic approach. Despite the difficulty in dissecting the intrathoracic adhesions, we were able to obtain the surgical field thoracoscopically. Then, we found the azygos lobe, as diagnosed preoperatively, and the azygos vein was supported by the mesentery draining into the superior vena cava. After dividing the mesentery, we clipped and cut the vessel, and both ends were further ligated. After these procedures, we safely performed esophagectomy with 3-field lymph node dissection. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 21st postoperative day. Conclusions: Although there was a firm adhesion in the thoracic cavity, preoperative recognition of the azygos lobe could help in preventing intraoperative injury. Especially, esophageal surgeons are required to deal with the azygos lobe safely to avoid serious intraoperative injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare disease characterized by the appearance of diffuse black mucosa on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy; the condition often progresses to esophageal stenosis in the chronic phase. A 70‐year‐old man was admitted to a neighborhood hospital with the diagnosis of alcoholic ketoacidosis and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed to investigate the symptom of esophageal tightness revealed AEN. The patient developed esophageal stenosis with scarring in the chronic phase and was referred to our hospital for surgery 6 months after the diagnosis of AEN. We performed thoracoscopic esophagectomy with the patient in the prone position. Although the esophagus was thickened and strong adhesions were present around the esophagus due to inflammation, we were able to complete the surgical procedure thoracoscopically. In patients presenting with benign esophageal stenosis developing after AEN, thoracoscopic esophagectomy may be a useful treatment option, even in the presence of severe fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy (RAMIE) is a precise and safe procedure with its advantages. On the other hand, RAMIE has several disadvantages. The lack of tactile function must be fully recognized, and surgical procedures must take the characteristics into account. We examined whether the findings obtained by intraoperative recurrent nerve monitoring (NIM) are useful in reducing recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) after RAMIE. Methods Overall, 81 cases of RAMIE through February 2023 were included in the study. NIM was performed in 41 patients in the first term using a combination of continuous and intermittent methods (NIM group). In the subsequent 40 patients, NIM was not performed (non-NIM group) in order to confirm the learning effect of NIM and to shorten the operation time. RLNP was confirmed by a combination of symptoms and postoperative laryngoscopy. Clinical and oncological factors and short-term outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results All postoperative RLNP occurred on the left side. Six patients (14.6%) in the NIM group had Grade 1 or higher RLNP. The causes of RLNP were all found during thoracic manipulation; 4 cases of over-traction of RLN and 2 cases of crush injury by robotic forceps. There was a significant decrease in RLNP of Grade 2 or higher; 4 patients (9.7%) in the NIM group and 0 in the non-NIM group (p = 0.04). In the non-NIM group, there was a reduction in thoracic operative time, total operative time, and thoracic blood loss. Conclusion NIM made us aware of surgical maneuvers that cause RLNP after RAMIE. Although the proficiency of the RAMIE technique may have played a role in the reduction of RLNP in the later period, avoidance of risky surgical procedures due to the learning effect from the NIM was thought to have contributed to the decrease in RLNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds Surgical algorithm for esophagogastric junction cancer have been proposed according to the results of a recent prospective study. However, reconstruction method has yet to be standardized. Esophagogastrostomy is often performed for esophagogastric junction cancer with esophageal invasion, although, it has been related to frequent and severe complications. Recently, we have introduced IntraThoracic Side-overlap EsophagoGastrostomy (ITS-EG), an eazy and novel intrathoracic anastomotic method with reflux prevention mechanism during minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric junction cancer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patient backgrounds and surgical/short term outcomes for the patient who underwent ITS-EG during minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric junction cancer between February 2018 to April 2023 at our institute. Results The study cohort included ten patients, with a median age of 67 (55–77) years. All tumors were classified as Siewert type II, and the median esophageal invasion length was 32 (11.8–40) cm. After extended proximal gastrectomy, patients underwent either thoracoscopic (five patients) or robot-assisted (five patients) minimally invasive esophagectomy followed by ITS-EG. ITS-EG consist of overlap anastomosis utilizing surgical stapler, and reflux prevention mechanism owing to the creation of pseudo-fornix and a slit-shaped anastomosis. The initial case suffered anastomotic leakage, however, recovered by conservative measures. All the other patients had an uneventful recovery without reflux esophagitis nor anastomotic stricture. Conclusion ITS-EG is an easy and safe esophagogastric anastomosis with reflux prevention mechanism during minimally invasive esophagectomy, and may be considered for esophagogastric junction cancers with esophageal invasion. Further accumulation of cases is needed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ITS-EG. Surgical procedure for ITS-EG would be presented by video. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]