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Background Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure burdened by a high morbidity rate. The effect of minimally invasive (MI) approach on elderly patients is still not clear. Aim of this study was to analyze the impact of MI approach on post-operative course according to the patient age. Methods A consecutive series of 692 patients underwent to elective oncological esophagectomy between 1997 and 2017. All data were entered into a prospective database. Patients submitted to 3-flield or trans-hiatal esophagectomy were excluded and only Ivor-Lewis open, hybrid or totally minimally invasive esophagectomy were evaluated. Patients were stratified according to age in 3 groups: Group A (≤ 50 years) 53 patients, Group B (> 51 and < 70 years) 269 and Group C (were ≥71 years) 126. Clinical and pathological factors influencing surgical outcome were evaluated. Complications were classified according to Clavien-Dindo (CD). Results As expected outcomes worsened with patients age (CD ≥ 3b: 7.5% group A, 13% group B and 21% group C. p=0.001), mortality (0% group A, 3% group B and 5.5% group C. p=0.035) and length of stay (10 days group A, 11 days group B and 13 days group C. p=0.001). A statistically significant higher incidence of anastomostic leaks was observed among patients submitted to totally MI esophagectomy in group C vs A and B that were respectively 12,5%, 0% and 7%. Major respiratory complications were not statistically different among these 3 three sub-group. Conclusions Old age has a significant impact on outcomes after esophagectomy. In this subset of patients a MI approach could also increase postoperative morbidity. Elderly patients should be carefully selected before to be submitted to MI esophagectomy.

Background Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure burdened by a high morbidity rate. The effect of minimally invasive (MI) approach on elderly patients is still not clear. Aim of this study was to analyze the impact of MI approach on post-operative course according to the patient age. Methods A consecutive series of 692 patients underwent to elective oncological esophagectomy between 1997 and 2017. All data were entered into a prospective database. Patients submitted to 3-flield or trans-hiatal esophagectomy were excluded and only Ivor-Lewis open, hybrid or totally minimally invasive esophagectomy were evaluated. Patients were stratified according to age in 3 groups: Group A (≤ 50 years) 53 patients, Group B (> 51 and Results As expected outcomes worsened with patients age (CD ≥ 3b: 7.5% group A, 13% group B and 21% group C. P = 0.001), mortality (0% group A, 3% group B and 5.5% group C. P = 0.035) and length of stay (10 days group A, 11 days group B and 13 days group C. P = 0.001). A statistically significant higher incidence of anastomotic leaks was observed among patients submitted to totally MI esophagectomy in group C vs A and B that were respectively 12,5%, 0% and 7%. Major respiratory complications were not statistically different among these 3 three sub-groups. Conclusion Old age has a significant impact on outcomes after esophagectomy. In this subset of patients a MI approach could also increase postoperative morbidity. Elderly patients should be carefully selected before to be submitted to MI esophagectomy. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background Oesophagectomy is the mainstay of curative treatment for oesophageal cancer and post-oesophagectomy diaphragmatic hernia (PODH) represents a potentially life-threatening surgical complication characterized by an underestimated occurrence rate and unknown related risk factors. This study analyses the experience of two tertiary designated centers in order to evaluate key elements concerning development and treatment of PODH. Methods A cohort of consecutive patients affected by a clinically resectable oesophageal cancer (any T, any N and M0) underwent Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy between March 1997 and April 2017 according to three different approaches: totally open incision procedure (OILO), hybrid (HILO) and totally mininvasive to esophagectomy (MILO). All patients were retrospectively observed in the context of a postoperative calendarised follow-up in order to record the incidence and postrepair results of PODH. Results 414 patients underwent Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy for cancer and 22 (5.3%) developed PODH within a median follow-up period of 16 months (6 - 177). Surgical repair was generally applied by the mean of laparoscopic cruroplasty (77%) with a conversion rate of 24%. Postoperative morbidity did not include early recurrences but exclusively cardio-pulmonary complications (5 patients) with one case of respiratory failure leading to death. The discharge was reached after a median hospital stay of 6 days (2 - 95) while 3 recurrences (14%) occurred over a median follow-up period of 10.1 months. A wide univariate analysis identified statistically significant associations between PODH occurrence and the administration of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, the complete pathological response (CPR) and a lymph node harvest (LNH) larger than 33 stations (p-value of 0.016, 0.001 and 0.024 respectively). The strong influence of an extended LNH was confirmed by the multivariable analyses (0.026) along with CPR which should however be considered as longer survival-related bias. Conclusion The minimally invasive surgery and the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy represent a considerable part of multimodal treatment for oesophageal cancer presenting a not statistically significant association with PODH development while a LNH including more than 33 nodes resulted to be an independent risk factor mirroring the extent of surgical demolition in oesophagectomy. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background Indocyanine Green—Angiography (ICG-A) has been recently introduced for visceral perfusion evaluation. Aim of this study is to assess whether the intraoperative use of ICG-A can improve the evaluation of blood supply of the gastric conduit in Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for cancer. Methods This is an interim analysis of a prospective interventional study ongoing at our Institution, on 160 Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy patients. After an intravenous bolus of ICG during the abdominal and thoracic stage, the gastric conduit perfusion was evaluated by means of a near infrared ICG-A and graded as ‘well’, ‘hypo-perfused’ or ‘ischemic’. If present, the ischemic or hypo-perfused area was resected. Demographic and clinical parameters and others, such as conduit perfusion speed, intra or post-operative hypotensive episodes have been analyzed. Results Currently 26 patients have been enrolled. An anastomotic leak of any grade was identified in 7 patients. Patients were divided in Group A (7 patients) who developed a leak and Group B (19 patients) who do not. No statistically significant differences were evidenced on demographic and preoperative clinical features, except for higher cigarette smoking history incidence in Group A. Those who developed a leak had an ‘hypo-perfused’ conduit at ICG-A in 71.4% and those who do not in only 15.8% (p 0.014). Median time from ICG injection to appearance of fluorescence at the basis of the gastric conduit was significantly longer in Group A than in Group B, 36 sec. (32–43.5) vs 28 sec. (20–39.8) (p 0.04) but median gastric conduit perfusion speed was similar. Patients in Group B had a higher median width of the conduit than Group A, 5cm (5.0–6.0) vs 4 (4.0–5.0) (p 0.032). Post-operative prolonged hypotensive episodes were seen more frequently in Group A than Group B (p 0.028). No differences were evidenced in terms of fluids infusions, blood loss, conduit length or intraoperative hypotensive episodes. Conclusion Preliminary results seem to show the usefulness of ICG-A in identifying patients at risk of leakage. Nevertheless no reduction of leakage incidence was induced by surgical strategy modification, probably because post-operative events may affect clinical course too. Definitive data have to be awaited. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Description Totally Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy has been proven feasible and safe in terms of overall mortality, morbidity and oncologic outcomes. Technical problems still exist in anastomotic fashioning and esophagogastric leakage represents the most feared complication. Its incidence is strictly related to technical difficulties and to the ischemia of the tissue involved in the anastomosis. We think angiography with Indocyanine Color Green can help the experienced surgeon to better evaluate the adequacy of the gastric tube therefore reducing the incidence of anastomotic leak. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.