Search

Background: Centralization of esophageal cancer surgery to high-volume institutions has been shown to improve perioperative outcomes in several studies. However, there is an ongoing debate, whether defined minimal annual hospital volumes for esophagectomies are required for quality assurance. The aim of the study was to assess perioperative outcomes of esophagectomies in a single institution in Switzerland., Methods: Data from a database of esophagectomies performed between 2004 and 2013 was analyzed. Perioperative morbidity of esophagectomies due to cancer was assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Postoperative mortality was defined as death from any cause within the same hospital stay., Results: A total of 143 operations (125 transthoracic esophagectomies, 18 extended transhiatal gastrectomies) were performed in the surveyed 10-year period. Two surgeons performed 91 % of all procedures. Postoperative morbidity was 43.4 %. Complications with a Clavien-Dindo score of III/IV (requiring surgical, endoscopic, or radiological intervention) occurred in 19 cases (13.4 %). The overall anastomotic leak rate was 3.5 %. Pulmonary complications were the most frequent postoperative problems involving 21 % of patients. In-hospital mortality was 0.7 %. Mean length of hospital stay was 17 days in patients with no complications and 22 days if there were any complications (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Esophageal cancer surgery is complex and has a significant risk of morbidity. The most common postoperative problems are pulmonary complications, usually responding well to non-invasive treatment. Appropriate patient selection and preparation, high surgeon volume, and a comprehensive multidisciplinary care pathway can provide a low perioperative mortality rate in a mid-volume institution.

Background: The exclusion of the proximal small intestine is thought to play a major role in the rapid improvement in the metabolic control of diabetes after gastric bypass., Objective: In this randomized, prospective, parallel group study, we sought to evaluate and compare the effects of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) with those of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on fasting, and meal-stimulated insulin, glucose, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels., Methods: Thirteen patients were randomized to LRYGB and 14 patients to LSG. The mostly nondiabetic patients were evaluated before, and 1 week and 3 months after surgery. A standard test meal was given after an overnight fast, and blood samples were collected before and after food intake in both groups for insulin, GLP-1, glucose, PYY, and ghrelin concentrations. This trial was registered in www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00356213) before the first patient was randomized., Results: Body weight and body mass index decreased markedly (P < 0.002) and comparably after either procedure. Excess BMI loss was similar at 3 months (43.3 +/- 12.1% vs. 39.4 +/- 9.4%, P > 0.36). After surgery, patients had markedly increased postprandial plasma insulin and GLP-1 levels, respectively (P < 0.01) after both of these surgical procedures, which favor improved glucose homeostasis. Compared with LSG, LRYGB patients had early and augmented insulin responses as early as 1-week postoperative; potentially mediating improved early glycemic control. After 3 months, no significant difference was observed with respect to insulin and GLP-1 secretion between the 2 procedures., Conclusion: Both procedures markedly improved glucose homeostasis: insulin, GLP-1, and PYY levels increased similarly after either procedure. Our results do not support the idea that the proximal small intestine mediates the improvement in glucose homeostasis.

Background: We investigated the success rate of a two-stage operative concept for treatment of morbid obesity: primary laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB, Lap-Band) for all morbidly obese patients, followed by sleeve gastrectomy with biliopancreatic diversion (duodenal switch or DS) in case of failure., Methods: From Dec 1996 to May 2004, 366 consecutive patients (female 78%, mean age 41 (17-66) years, BMI 44.3 (35-75) kg/m2 were prospectively evaluated, using the two-stage operative concept. The follow-up rate after a mean of 4.1 (1-8.4) years was 98%. Primary outcome measure was BAROS score, defined according to weight loss, quality of life, reduction in co-morbidities, complications and re-operations., Results: A very good-to-excellent result was found in 118 patients (32%), 141 (39%) had a good results, 76 (21%) a fair result, and 31 (8%) were failures. 39 patients needed re-banding due to slippage, 68 a DS, and 11 patients had band removal. Early morbidity of the Lap-Band was 3.8%, that of DS 13%, and mortality was zero. The excess weight loss at last follow-up of all the patients was 44% (40% after Lap-Band/rebanding, and 82% 2 years after DS)., Conclusion: The two-stage concept with primary LAGB, followed by DS in case of failure, leads to a good result in 71% of morbidly obese patients. LAGB alone does not appear to be an adequate procedure for every morbidly obese patient.

Background and Aims: The optimal reconstruction procedure after gastrectomy is still a matter of debate. The ileocecal interpositional graft offers an excellent reservoir capacity, the preservation of duodenal passage, and a natural antireflux barrier (ileocecal sphincter)., Patients and Methods: We prospectively analyzed the quality-of-life outcome in 20 patients undergoing ileocecal interpositional graft (13 subdiaphragmatic reconstruction, 7 intrathoracic reconstruction) after gastrectomy in a University Hospital and a Canton Hospital (mean follow-up 6 months), operative and postoperative morbidity, body weight, reflux, and dumping symptoms. In a smaller series of nine patients we performed functional tests such as gastric emptying measurements, glucose tolerance tests, and manometry of the gastric substitute., Results: The mean gastrointestinal quality-of-life index in the subdiaphragmatic reconstruction group 114, and that in the intrathoracic reconstruction group was 106. Mild reflux and dumping symptoms were noted by no patients in the former group and by two of seven patients in the latter. In the smaller series of nine patients gastric emptying time was faster in the intrathoracic group, but no difference in plasma glucose level was found between the two groups., Conclusions: Reconstruction after gastrectomy with an ileocecal interpositional graft achieves good quality of life with an acceptable morbidity. The technique seems to reduce the occurrence of postoperative reflux and dumping symptoms.

Mainly because of the loss of reservoir function, loss of sphincter function, and exclusion of the duodenal route, patients who undergo gastrectomy suffer from many adverse effects postoperatively. The ileocecal interpositional graft is an attractive method to use as a gastric substitute after gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy. A pedunculated ileocecal graft is placed between the esophagus and the duodenum. The cecum acts as a reservoir while the ileocecal valve protects against enteroesophageal reflux. The duodenal passage is also preserved. Fourteen patients underwent this operation. The technique-related morbidity was low and the quality of life was good. During a mean follow-up of 6 months, no evidence of severe dumping syndrome or reflux esophagitis was observed. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to compare this technique with the standard methods of gastric reconstruction.

In clinical practice a long Roux-en-Y reconstruction is most often used for gastric replacement. Among various postgastrectomy symptoms, alcaline reflux is the most disturbing. A great variety of different pouch reconstructions with or without duodenal bypass only control reflux in part. The ileocoecal interposition has been placed between the oesophagus and the duodenum as a gastric substitute in 14 patients without postoperative mortality. This preliminary series demonstrates an excellent control of alcaline reflux and a good quality of life, according to the Eypasch score. Dysphagia or stasis in the distal oesophagus are absent as is gas bloating. This type of reconstruction, which is simpler than some of the pouch reconstructions, probably deserves more attention and may perhaps be perfected by varying the length of ileum and volume of ascending colon to be interposed.

The ileocecal interpositional graft is an alternative method for replacing the distal esophagus and the stomach. A pedunculated ileocecal interpositional graft rotated 180 degrees clock-wise and placed across the hiatus between the proximal esophagus and the duodenum could act as a reservoir and protect against reflux (ileocecal valve) while preserving the duodenal passage. Two patients underwent this operation (the first patient has been observed for 12 postoperative months). We also used this technique to replace the stomach alone below the diaphragm, a technique that had been abandoned in the surgical literature since 1952, although the concept and initial experiences were already promising at that time. In favor of these attractive features of the ileocecal interpositional graft as gastric replacement, we have begun a controlled examination of this method.