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Anastomotic leakage (AL) after esophagectomy is the most impactful complication after esophagectomy. Ischemic conditioning (ISCON) of the stomach >14 days prior to esophagectomy might reduce the incidence of AL. The current trial was conducted to prospectively investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic ISCON in selected patients. This international multicenter feasibility trial included patients with esophageal cancer at high risk for AL with major calcifications of the thoracic aorta or a stenosis in the celiac trunk. Patients underwent laparoscopic ISCON by occlusion of the left gastric and the short gastric arteries followed by esophagectomy after an interval of 12–18 days. The primary endpoint was complications Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade 2 after ISCON and before esophagectomy. Between November 2019 and January 2022, 20 patients underwent laparoscopic ISCON followed by esophagectomy. Out of 20, 16 patients (80%) underwent neoadjuvant treatment. The median duration of the laparoscopic ISCON procedure was 45 minutes (range: 25–230). None of the patients developed intraoperative or postoperative complications after ISCON. Hospital stay after ISCON was median 2 days (range: 2–4 days). Esophagectomy was completed in all patients after a median of 14 days (range: 12–28). AL occurred in three patients (15%), and gastric tube necrosis occurred in one patient (5%). In hospital, the 30-day and 90-day mortalities were 0%. Laparoscopic ISCON of the gastric conduit is feasible and safe in selected esophageal cancer patients with an impaired vascular status. Further studies have to prove whether this innovative strategy aids to reduce the incidence of AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm with intermediate biological potential. The stomach is an uncommon site for IMTs, and gastric IMTs are typically confined to the submucosal layer. This report presents a rare case of a 29-year-old woman with a gastric IMT located in the gastric fundus, exhibiting local invasion into the esophagus and spleen., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of postnatal esophageal deviation index (EDI) measured within the first 24 h of life for predicting mortality and morbidity in neonates with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (L-CDH)., Method: This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 133 neonates with L-CDH admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center between January 2016 and January 2024. Patients were categorized into two groups based on outcomes: survivors (n = 108) and non-survivors (n = 27). Risk factors for mortality were identified using both univariate and multivariate analyses. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to evaluate the predictive value of EDI for mortality in L-CDH patients. Subsequently, patients were divided into two groups: those with an EDI> 16.1% and those with an EDI≤16.1%. The relationship between EDI and both mortality and morbidity was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate analysis., Results: EDI (adjusted OR: 0.822, 95% CI 0.723-0.935; P = 0.003) was identified as the independent predictor of mortality through both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The ROC curve demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting the mortality was 0.854 (95%CI: 0.782-0.930) for EDI, with an optimal cut-off value of 16.125%. The cumulative mortality rate through Day 200 was higher in patients with an EDI>16.1% (P＜0.001). Among the 133 neonates with L-CDH, 24.8% had an EDI>16.1%. This was associated with significantly worse CDH characteristics, including a high incidence of intrathoracic stomach and a high occurrence of high-risk defect sizes (type C/D), (P＜0.001), as well as more severe pulmonary hypertension (P＜0.001). An EDI>16.1% was associated with higher mortality and a greater need for ECMO support compared to an EDI≤16.1% (P＜0.001)., Conclusion: EDI within the first 24 h of life in patients with L-CDH is associated with increased mortality and the need for ECMO, particularly when EDI exceeds 16.1%., Level of Evidence: III., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None of the authors reported a conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients requiring upper gastrointestinal surgery for benign oesophageal conditions are at nutrition risk before and after surgery. There is a dearth of published evidence guiding clinicians on effective collaboration with patients to mitigate perioperative nutritional challenges. We conducted a qualitative study aiming to explore patients' perioperative food, nutrition, and educational experiences to guide future care., Methods: Adult patients who had undergone elective, benign oesophageal surgery were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews within 3 weeks of hospital discharge. Interviews were transcribed and analysed with a reflexive form of inductive thematic analysis in addition to synthesised member checking., Results: Interviews with 12 patients identified three major themes. First, nutrition education fosters a better surgical recovery experience: patients expressed a desire to be prepared for their upcoming surgery and engage in the recovery process with informed food choices. Most patients preferred preoperative education given limited capacity for learning during hospital admission. Second, patients have priorities for nutrition information: patients expressed that educational material should be printed, comprehensive, practical, include familiar foods and focus on managing postoperative physical symptoms. Third, food impacts social and emotional experiences of surgery: resumption of a normal diet was a sign of recovery that enabled social reintegration. Identified themes resonated with Knowles' six-core principles of andragogy., Conclusions: Patients with benign oesophageal conditions perceived nutrition education to be a vital aspect of surgical preparation and recovery. Re-designing perioperative education with patient input has the potential to improve outcomes and experiences., (© 2022 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.)

Background: Most existing literature studies reported that laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) is safe in the setting of ineffective or weak peristalsis. However, the effect of the wrap on esophageal motility is still debated. This study aimed to assess how a functioning and effective fundoplication could affect esophageal motility in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)., Methods: This study analyzed prospectively collected data on patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen (LN) fundoplication or laparoscopic Toupet (LT) fundoplication for GERD at our department between 2010 and 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Patients were evaluated using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ), barium swallow, endoscopy, high-resolution manometry (HRM), and 24-hour pH impedance (multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring [MII-pH]) before and after surgery. HRM was reviewed by 2 experts, following the criteria of the Chicago Classification (version 4.0). LF failure was objectively defined in case of abnormal postoperative MII-pH according to the Lyon 2.0 criteria with/without an abnormal GerdQ., Results: During the study period, 124 patients with GERD (89 males and 35 females) were recruited. Of note, 58 patients underwent LN fundoplication, and 66 patients underwent LT fundoplication. All procedures were completed laparoscopically, and the 90-day postoperative mortality was nil. At the postoperative MII-pH, good outcome was recorded in 103 patients, and failure was recorded in 21 patients. There was a significant association between a successful LF and the normalization of esophageal motility (P < .05)., Conclusion: Our data confirmed that LF is an effective treatment in patients with GERD, regardless of esophageal motility status. Moreover, our results indicate that LF could determine a normalization of motility abnormalities in patients with GERD., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is the gold standard for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy (TL). Retrospective analysis was performed of TEP outcomes in patients between 2013 and 2020 at a single tertiary hospital. TEP was performed primarily in 79%, secondarily in 6%, and not placed in 15% of 226 patients. Within the study population, 53.4% utilized their TEP, including 52% of primary and 71.4% of secondary TEPs. TEP-related complication occurred in 50.8%, including 50.8% of primary and 50% of secondary TEPs. Secondary TEP was less likely in Black versus White patients, and more likely in patients undergoing pharyngectomy. Older patients and those with TEP complications were less likely to utilize TEP. Our study, performed in a TL population of predominantly lower socioeconomic status, showed high complication rates and low rates of utilization overall. Our findings suggest secondary TEP may be favorable to allow increased pre-operatively counseling and patient healing prior to procedure., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Background: Penetrating neck injuries are rare and require urgent surgical intervention to prevent life-threatening complications. This report highlights a unique case involving complex surgical repair of tracheal, esophageal, and vascular injuries following a homicidal assault, emphasizing the challenges and techniques used in managing such severe trauma., Case Presentation: A 45-year-old female presented with a severe penetrating neck injury after an alleged homicidal assault with a knife. The patient was in hypovolemic shock and required immediate resuscitation. Endotracheal intubation was performed through the transected tracheal segment, followed by surgical exploration in the operating room. Findings included partial transection of the carotid sheath, complete transection of the trachea, and oesophagus. Surgical repair involved using lateral polypropylene 5-O sutures for the carotid sheath, end-to-end oesophageal repair with absorbable 3 - 0 polygalactin sutures. As tracheal repair was not possible posterior wall was approximated with 3 - 0 polypropylene and size 7 tracheostomy tube was inserted and secured. The patient was managed post-operatively in the ICU and was discharged in stable condition on the 25th day adviced regular follow-up. This case underscores the importance of prompt airway management and surgical intervention in penetrating neck injuries. The meticulous repair of all injured structures and diligent post-operative care are crucial to a successful outcome. This report contributes to the limited literature on managing complex penetrating stab injuries to the neck and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in such cases., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethics approval was obtained from the ABC Hospital Ethics Committee (Ref: 2024-CTI-56). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for participation in this case study. Consent for publication: Written informed consent for publication of this case report and any accompanying images was obtained from the patient. A copy of the consent form is available for review by the Editor of this journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) can complicate the management of esophageal atresia (EA) with or without a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). This series describes a short interval, staged, thoracoscopic internal traction approach for LGEA with distal TEF to manage complex anastomotic tension or an anatomically impossible esophageal anastomosis., Methods: A retrospective review (2018-2024) was performed across four tertiary centers to identify patients with LGEA and distal TEF, managed with a staged, thoracoscopic internal traction approach. In the first stage, the TEF was ligated and internal traction sutures were placed between esophageal pouches. In the second stage, patients underwent primary anastomosis. Short and long-term complications and outcomes were measured., Results: In total, seven patients were treated with this approach. Gestational ages ranged from 33 to 39 weeks. The average age at the initial surgery was 2.3 days, and the average age at definitive anastomosis was 15.9 days. There were no cases of leak or esophageal dehiscence. Gastroesophageal reflux was a common post-operative complication, occurring in 85.7% of patients., Conclusions: Temporary internal traction sutures allow for a minimally invasive, safe repair of LGEA with distal TEF, under decreased tension. This technique reduces operative time, and potential complications associated with other long-gap anastomotic techniques., Level of Evidence: IV., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Rationale: Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an exceedingly rare yet critically life-threatening condition, with mortality rates nearing 100% if not addressed promptly. AEF often develops in the context of thoracic aortic aneurysms, esophageal malignancies, or as a complication of foreign body ingestion and prior thoracic aortic surgeries. This study reports an exceptionally severe and clinically rare case of AEF associated with a pseudaneurysm induced by esophageal stenting. By disseminating this case, we aim to heighten awareness of AEF and emphasize the necessity for meticulous decision-making during esophageal stent placement, along with the importance of vigilant postoperative monitoring to enable early intervention., Patient Concerns: A 70-year-old male presented with "food obstruction" and was subsequently diagnosed with esophageal malignancy. To alleviate the obstruction, he underwent esophageal stenting. Fifty-five days postprocedure, he experienced a sudden onset of "chest pain, vomiting of dark red blood, and melena," prompting hospitalization for "gastrointestinal bleeding.", Diagnoses: Urgent computed tomography angiography revealed the emergence of a new pseudaneurysm at the lateral aspect of the esophageal stent, with direct communication between the aneurysm and the adjacent esophagus, raising the suspicion of AEF., Interventions: An urgent multidisciplinary emergency team was convened to execute critical interventions, including endoluminal stenting of the esophagus and thoracic endovascular aortic repair., Outcomes: The patient suffered a sudden and massive hematemesis, estimated at approximately 3000 mL, leading to his subsequent demise., Lessons: AEF is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. For patients suspected of AEF, it is imperative to conduct prompt and thorough computed tomography angiography while initiating an emergency surgical alert. The proximity of esophageal stents to the aorta may significantly elevate the risk of AEF; thus, a comprehensive risk assessment should precede stent placement in cases involving tumors adjacent to the aorta. Furthermore, postoperative surveillance is crucial to monitor potential aortic invasion by the tumor or the development of an aneurysm near the esophagus, facilitating timely intervention., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Gastric cancer remains a major global health challenge, ranking fourth in cancer-related deaths. Total gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is the standard treatment, with advancements in surgery shifting towards minimally invasive techniques to reduce surgical trauma and metabolic response. Esophagojejunal anastomotic leak is a frequent complication of gastrectomy, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality rates by up to 64%., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study reviewed adults undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer who developed esophagojejunal anastomotic leaks. The study described patient characteristics, diagnostic methods, and management at Clinica Universitaria Colombia from 2013 to 2023., Results: Among 500 patients who had total gastrectomy, 54 developed esophagojejunal leaks. The cohort was 64.8% male, average age 55.2 years (± 14.87), and average BMI 24.5 kg/m². Notably, 18.5% smoked, 11.1% had lung disease, and 9.3% had heart disease or diabetes. Chest tomography was used in 60% of cases, followed by endoscopy in 35.2%. Endoscopic management with fully covered stents was the main strategy, used in 84% of cases. Average hospitalization was 18 days, with 33% needing intensive care, and overall hospital stay was 23.31 ± 16.33 days. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant and elective laparoscopic surgeries had a significant 30-day mortality risk., Conclusions: Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, esophagojejunal anastomotic leaks continue to represent a serious complication, increasing morbidity and mortality. Therefore, early postoperative detection, based on the patient's clinical signs that allow confirmatory studies to be performed, is crucial. This facilitates the implementation of timely treatments, whether conservative, through the use of endoscopic or percutaneous strategies, or surgical procedures. The next step for the scientific community will be to conduct studies with long-term follow-ups to ensure consistency of the high-quality results reported so far., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The protocol (042 − 24 UNV) “Characterization of the diagnostic approach for the treatment of patients with esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage following total gastrectomy at Clínica Universitaria Colombia during the period from 2013 to 2023” was evaluated and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Fundación Universitaria Sanitas. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Informed consent: The research protocol was evaluated and approved by the institution’s research and ethics committee. According to Resolution 008430 of 1993 from the Ministry of Health, this is considered a low-risk investigation. Given that it is a retrospective study involving analysis of administrative data from medical records, obtaining informed consent was not necessary. Use of artificial intelligence: No artificial intelligence (AI) technologies were used in the development of this research. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Globally, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy is increasingly being accepted by surgeons for the treatment of gastric cancer. Overlap anastomosis and π-shaped anastomosis are the two most commonly used anastomosis methods in total laparoscopic surgery; however, their safety and suitability for the population are still unclear., Methods: A total of 162 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent total laparoscopic total gastrectomy with overlap or π-shaped anastomosis were retrospectively analyzed. The intraoperative conditions and postoperative complications were compared., Results: A significant difference in the tumor location was found between the two groups (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay between the two anastomosis methods (p > 0.05); however, the π-shaped anastomosis group had more postoperative anastomotic leakage (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Overlap anastomosis is recommended as the preferred anastomosis for totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and π-shaped anastomosis can be applied to non-gastroesophageal junction cancer with lower tumor location., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Beijing Cancer Hospital, and informed consent was obtained from the patient. This study have been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: All presentations of case reports have consent for publication. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

One risk factor for anastomotic leakage (AL) after esophagectomy with retrosternal gastric reconstruction is excessive compression of the gastric tube at the thoracic inlet. In this study, we evaluated the effect of our modified procedure to reduce AL by placing the esophagogastric anastomosis below the thoracic inlet. Between January 2008 and December 2022, 174 consecutive patients underwent subtotal esophagectomy with retrosternal gastric pull up, followed by circular stapler anastomosis in our hospitals. After January 2016, the gastric tube was pulled down to place the anastomosis below the suprasternal notch. Postoperative CT then measured the level of esophagogastric anastomosis (LEA). Comparing cases before and after revision (conventional group, n = 65 vs. test group, n = 109), AL was significantly reduced from 11 (16.9%) to 3 (2.8%) cases (P = 0.002). After propensity score matching, AL was observed in 14% (8/57) and 0% (0/57) cases in the conventional and test groups, respectively (P = 0.006). Smaller circular stapler size (P < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001), and lower LEA (P < 0.001) were observed in the test group than in the conventional group. Multivariate analysis revealed that anastomotic procedure (OR [95%CI], 0.01[0.00-0.46], P = 0.008), and body mass index (OR [95%CI], 6.92[1.10-135.01], P = 0.038) were the independent risk factors for the development of AL. Our modified procedure to avoid compression of the gastric tube at the thoracic inlet is suggested to noninvasively reduce the risk of AL in the subtotal esophagectomy with retrosternal reconstruction., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Impacted esophageal foreign bodies (EFBs) are a common but preventable presentation in children, requiring prompt removal in the operating room by esophagoscopy. Our objective was to describe the overall cost of impacted pediatric EFBs and determine factors that increase resource burden., Methods: A cost analysis of pediatric patients undergoing esophagoscopy for EFB removal from 2010 to 2021 was performed. Characteristics of each EFB, patient transfer, and hospital course were collected. Direct and indirect healthcare costs were calculated using hospital-specific costs and provincial fees. Amounts were calculated in Canadian dollars., Results: Six hundred and eighty patients were included. The total amount spent on pediatric EFBs from 2010 to 2021 was $2,673,288. The mean total cost per child with an EFB was $3469. An extra hour of delay before Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) consultation at a tertiary hospital corresponded to an $816 cost [95% confidence interval (CI; 244.7-1287.4)]. On average, children requiring transfer to a tertiary care center cost $1965 more than those initially presenting to a tertiary care center ( P  = .001). Higher-risk EFBs (n = 165, 24%) were associated with a longer hospital stay and greater complication rate and resulted in a $4095 increase in overall cost compared to lower-risk EFBs [$6829 (standard deviation (SD) $11,347) vs $2734 (SD $10,451), P  = .02]. Button battery ingestions cost 8.8 times more than non-dangerous EFBs, such as coins. Longer distance for transfer was associated with a higher likelihood of having complications [odds ratios (OR) 1.5, 95% CI (1.1-1.8)]., Conclusion: EFBs pose a significant economic burden to the healthcare system, driven by transfer to a tertiary care center, delays in transfer to the operating room, and high-risk EFBs. It is critical to identify areas for improved efficiency such as increased parental education for primary prevention, early involvement of the OHNS team and improving the capacity of community hospitals to manage EFB to limit transfers when possible., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The prevalence of proximal gastric cancer (PGC) has been increasing rapidly worldwide. Postoperative reflux esophagitis after conventional esophagogastrostomy (EG) is a major problem that haunts surgeons. This study designed a novel antireflux technique called tunnel anastomosis in EG after proximal gastrectomy (PG). This study aimed to present the detailed procedures of tunnel anastomosis and to assess its safety and feasibility by comparing the surgical outcomes, reflux, and nutritional status of patients undergoing tunnel anastomosis and those undergoing double-tract jejunal interposition reconstruction (DTJIR)., Methods: A total of 1718 patients undergoing gastrectomy were enrolled in this study. However, only 150 patients undergoing PG were ultimately analyzed, of which 21 patients underwent tunnel anastomosis and 129 patients underwent DTJIR. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce biases., Results: After 1:1 PSM, there were 21 patients in both groups. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups regarding surgical approach, blood loss, operative time, reconstruction time, postoperative hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. The incidence of reflux esophagitis in both groups was 9.5% (2/21) according to the endoscopic examination at the 12-month postoperative follow-up. No patient in the tunnel group was classified as grade B or higher according to the Los Angeles classification. Patients in the tunnel and DTJIR groups exhibited comparable postoperative nutritional status when assessing the body weight, albumin levels and prognostic nutritional index value at 3 and 6 months after surgery., Conclusion: Tunnel anastomosis is a safe technique that offers a robust antireflux effect and can be performed in some suitable patients with PGC., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Advancements in laparoscopic technology have popularized laparoscopic total gastrectomy over traditional open surgery, yet postoperative complications like anastomotic leakage and stenosis persist, particularly in esophagojejunostomy. To address this, since 2017, the authors have introduced the "Pant-Shaped" esophagojejunostomy as an improvement over the classic Roux-en-Y method, especially beneficial for patients with small intestinal diameters or those with gastric body cancer or Siewert III., Objective: To assess the viability and safety of employing 'Pant-Shaped' anastomosis following laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy., Methods: A method of descriptive case study was used. In our department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, records of 210 patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy for gastric body cancer or adenocarcinoma at the junction of esophagus and jejunum with "Pant-Shaped" anastomosis between January 2017 and December 2022 were examined. Clinicopathological features and postoperative conditions were also examined and assessed., Results: The mean age of the 164 male and 46 female research participants was 69.2 ± 8.3 years. There was a mean estimated blood loss of 63.4 ± 29.7 ml, an anastomosis time of 25.9 ± 3.0 minutes, an operation time of 208.2 ± 40.4 minutes, and a postoperative hospital stay of 12.2 ± 8.0 days. Nine patients (4.3%) experienced postoperative problems (Clavien-Dindo > grade II), including two episodes of anastomotic leakage that were resolved with irrigation and drainage, anti-infection therapy, and nutritional assistance. After an unforeseen reoperation, two cases of duodenal stump leaking were resolved. Anastamotic hemorrhage was treated with hemostasis and blood transfusion, and the patient made a full recovery. Due to a Peterson's hernia, one patient required emergent open surgery. three months subsequent to LATG., Conclusions: The "Pant-Shaped" anastomosis method after laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy is simple, easy to promote, and has fewer complications. It is a safe and feasible modified method for esophagojejunostomy, especially suitable for patients with poor intestinal dilation and contraction ability and small jejunal diameter.

Introduction: Esophagectomy is the mainstay of esophageal cancer treatment, but anastomotic insufficiency related morbidity and mortality remain challenging for patient outcome. Therefore, the objective of this work was to optimize anastomotic technique and gastric conduit perfusion with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for total minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with linear stapled anastomosis., Material and Methods: A live porcine model (n = 58) for MIE was used with gastric conduit formation and simulation of linear stapled side-to-side esophagogastrostomy. Four main experimental groups differed in stapling length (3 vs. 6 cm) and simulation of anastomotic position on the conduit (cranial vs. caudal). Tissue oxygenation around the anastomotic simulation site was evaluated using HSI and was validated with histopathology., Results: The tissue oxygenation (ΔStO 2 ) after the anastomotic simulation remained constant only for the short stapler in caudal position (-0.4 ± 4.4%, n.s.) while it was impaired markedly in the other groups (short-cranial: -15.6 ± 11.5%, p = 0.0002; long-cranial: -20.4 ± 7.6%, p = 0.0126; long-caudal: -16.1 ± 9.4%, p < 0.0001). Tissue samples from avascular stomach as measured by HSI showed correspondent eosinophilic pre-necrotic changes in 35.7 ± 9.7% of the surface area., Conclusion: Tissue oxygenation at the site of anastomotic simulation of the gastric conduit during MIE is influenced by stapling technique. Optimal oxygenation was achieved with a short stapler (3 cm) and sufficient distance of the simulated anastomosis to the cranial end of the gastric conduit. HSI tissue deoxygenation corresponded to histopathologic necrotic tissue changes. The experimental model with HSI and ML allow for systematic optimization of gastric conduit perfusion and anastomotic technique while clinical translation will have to be proven., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest for the submission of the manuscript “Optimization of anastomotic technique and gastric conduit perfusion with hyperspectral imaging and machine learning in an experimental model for minimally invasive esophagectomy”., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

For total laryngectomy patients with tortuous tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) tracts, anterograde placement of the voice prosthesis can be challenging. This article describes an updated and straightforward technique for in-office retrograde placement of the voice prosthesis in patients with such challenging TEP tracts. Laryngoscope, 135:121-123, 2025., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) is a common method for post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation. Despite its common use, some patients ultimately fail TEP rehabilitation. TEP dysfunction negatively affects quality of life due to poor voice quality and need for repeated interventions to restore TEP function. Occasionally, voice rehabilitation with TEP is completely unsuccessful. We performed a scoping review to characterize the main reasons for total TEP failure, in hopes of guiding selection of optimal TEP candidates., Study Design: Scoping review using PubMed of all English language articles from 1990 to 2020 addressing causes of TEP failure., Methods: This scoping review followed the population, intervention, comparison, outcome and study (PICOS) guidelines. Total TEP failure was defined as complete loss or abandonment of TEP voice or tract. A comprehensive search strategy using PubMed's MeSH subject headings and keywords was created. Causes and rates of failure were reviewed., Results: Among 544 peer-reviewed journal articles reviewed for inclusion. Seventy articles met inclusion criteria, resulting in a total of 4928 TEP voice restoration patients for analysis. 15.2% of these patients had total TEP failure. The most common reasons for failure were dissatisfaction with voice (26.3%), leakage (17.9%), inadequate patient motivation (14.7%), comorbidities (14.2%), stoma problems (11.6%), and abandonment of TEP after dislodgement (10.6%)., Conclusion: Common reasons for TEP failure included voice dissatisfaction, leakage, lack of patient motivation, patient comorbidities, and stoma problems. These factors should be considered when selecting candidates for TEP voice restoration., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The impact of combining ablation index (AI)-guided and very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) ablation on procedural factors at the posterior wall near the esophagus is unclear., Methods: Atrial fibrillation patients who underwent initial ablation using three-dimensional mapping were enrolled. Patients were classified into two groups: those who underwent only AI-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) (AI group) and those who underwent vHPSD ablation at the posterior wall adjacent to the esophagus in addition to AI-guided PVI (AI + vHPSD group). Differences in myocardial injury, inflammation, procedural characteristics, and pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection patterns were assessed between the two groups., Results: This study included 167 patients (AI group, 83 patients; AI+vHPSD group, 84 patients). No significant differences in high-sensitive troponin I or changes in inflammatory markers between pre- and Postablation were observed in either group. Total application time and total application energy were significantly lower in the AI+vHPSD group than in the AI group (p < 0.001 for both) despite no significant difference in the total number of applications between the groups. The incidence of esophagus temperature ≥40 degrees was significantly lower in the AI+vHPSD group than in the AI group (p = 0.036). However, the incidence of PV reconnections near the esophagus was significantly higher in the AI+vHPSD group than in the AI group (11.9% vs 3.6%, p = 0.046), despite no significant difference in the incidence of PV reconnections overall., Conclusion: The combination of AI-guided PVI and vHPSD adjacent to the esophagus demonstrated reduced application energy requirements and maintained safety and effectiveness during the perioperative period., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Postoperative esophageal pain occurs in 67% of patients after peroral endoscopic esophageal myotomy (POEM). Magnesium can act as a smooth muscle relaxant. This study investigated whether intraoperative magnesium can reduce postoperative esophageal pain in patients undergoing POEM., Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 92 patients were randomized to receive either magnesium sulfate as a 50 mg.kg -1 (total body weight) bolus followed by an infusion at 25 mg.kg -1 .hr -1 , or 0.9% saline. Intraoperative analgesia was standardized in all patients. The primary outcome was the score from a validated, modified Esophageal Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Pain scores, opioid requirements, and questionnaire scores were collected through postoperative day 1., Results: ESQ scores were significantly lower in the magnesium group in the PACU (median [25th-75th], 24 [18-31] vs 35 [28-42]; median difference [95% confidence interval, CI], 10 [6-13]; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (16 [14-23] vs 30 [24-35]; P < .0001). Less opioids were needed in the magnesium group in the PACU (mean ± standard deviation [SD] [99% CI], 4.7 ± 10 [1-9] mg vs 29 ± 21 [21-37] mg; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (1 ± 3.7 [0-2.5] mg vs 13 ± 23 [4-23] mg; P = .0009). Pain scores were lower in the magnesium group in the PACU (0 [0-3] vs 5 [5-7]; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (0 [0-2] vs 4 [3-5]; P < .0001)., Conclusions: Patients undergoing POEM randomized to receive intraoperative magnesium had sustained reductions in esophageal discomfort severity and opioid requirements 24 hours after surgery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Background: Esophageal stenosis is a troublesome complication after circumferential ESD. This study examined the efficacy of betulin gel in preventing esophageal stenosis after ESD in a porcine model., Methods: Twelve pigs were randomized to betulin group and control group evenly. At the distal esophagus, circumferential ESD was performed in all animals. In the betulin group, betulin gel was applied at days 1, 3, and 7. Endoscopy examination was performed at day 3, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks post-ESD. Then pigs were killed for macroscopic and histologic esophageal evaluation., Results: The rate of esophageal stricture was lower in the betulin group (53.3 ± 12.5% vs 88.3% ± 2.9, p = 0.02). Betulin-treated pigs had lower dysphagia score (2.0 ± 0 vs 3.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), less weight loss (11.78% ± 2.16 vs 15.85% ± 3.63, p = 0.04), and better passability of the open and closed biopsies forceps (83.33% vs. 0%, p = 0.015, and 100% vs. 0%, p = 0.002) 4 weeks post-ESD. Histologically, better re-epithelization (63.2 ± 10.7 mm vs 22.8 ± 10.1 mm, p < 0.001), slighter submucosal fibrosis (0.95 ± 0.17 mm vs 2.32 ± 0.48 mm, p = 0.002), lower muscularis propria damage score (1 vs 3, p < 0.001), and less inflammatory cells (307 vs 675 per high-power field, p = 0.002) were noted in the betulin group. The expression levels of TGF-β1, collagen i, collagen III, and α-SMA were significantly lower in the betulin group compared to the control group (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Betulin gel shows promise in reducing fibrosis, enhancing repair, and preventing esophageal stricture after ESD, suggesting a potential new strategy for prevention., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical statement: All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed. Conflict of interest: All authors have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japan Esophageal Society.)

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a primary surgical intervention for obesity management. However, several longitudinal studies have documented the emergence of long-term esophageal consequences, notably gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its associated complications. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of esophageal complications, including esophagitis and Barret's esophagus (BE), 5 and 10 years after SG, in one medical center., Methods: Two cohorts of consecutive patients who underwent SG were studied: patients who underwent a systematic upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy (UGIE) at five years or conversion to RYGB < 5 years (cohort n°1, n = 219), and patients who underwent UGIE at 10 years or converted to RYGB > 5 years (cohort n°2, n = 72). Patients with missing UGIE before or after SG were excluded., Results: In the cohort n°1, 62.7% of the patients had clinical GERD at the 5-years follow-up (vs. 21.8 before SG, p < 0.0001), 27.4% had esophagitis (vs. 14.2% before SG, p = 0.0006), and 8.3% had BE (vs. 1.8% before SG, p = 0.002) with metaplasia in 1.8%. De novo esophagitis and BE accounted for 19.6% and 7.8%, respectively. In the cohort n°2, at 10 years, 61.5% had clinical GERD (vs.12.5 before SG, p < 0.0001), 23.6% had esophagitis (vs. 9.7% before SG, p = 0.025) including 20.8% de novo, and 8.3% had de novo BE, with metaplasia in 5.6%. De novo esophagitis accounted for 20.8%. One patient developed esophageal adenocarcinoma 10 years after SG. Pre-operative esophagitis was significantly associated with BE on UGIE at 5 or 10 years, while active smoking and preoperative esophagitis were risk factors for esophagitis., Conclusion: This study highlights a significant increase in esophageal complications 5 and 10 years after SG. Pre-operative esophagitis should be considered when choosing a surgical technique for obesity management., Competing Interests: Declarations. Disclosures: Drs Thomas Barreteau, Samuel Frey, Marie de Montrichard, Alexandre Dreant, Bastien Perrot, and Pr Tamara Matysiak-Budnik have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. Pr David Jacobi has an equity interest in participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board, support for attending meetings and/or travel, payment for expert testimony, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events, consulting fees, and grants or contracts from any entity with Eli Lilly, Amgen, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer. Pr David Jacobi has a role of member of GCC-CSO in France. Pr Claire Blanchard has an equity interest in payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events with Gore, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and Novonordisk., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Nowadays, it is only relatively rare and in selected situations that colonic interposition is chosen rather than the stomach as a reconstructive organ for replacing the oesophagus. The colon is a reliable organ for tubular replacement of the oesophagus when the stomach is not available for reconstruction. Colon interposition is a complex and complicated operation. It requires a specific indication and thorough preoperative preparation. From a technical point of view, colon interposition places high demands on the selection and surgical dissection of the vascular supply to the reconstructed organ. The reconstruction route and elevation of the interposition graft to the proximal oesophagus and the need to create 3 or 4 gastrointestinal anastomoses also place significantly higher demands than reconstruction using a gastric tube. Overall, despite the significant surgery-related morbidity, good functional results and a good quality of life can usually be achieved. The surgical technique applied in our own practice is described in detail. An overview from literature on the results of colonic interposition is given, particularly with regard to surgical complications and quality of life after colon interposition., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Esophageal mucosal resection for superficial esophageal cancer can lead to postoperative esophageal stricture, with current preventive measures being insufficient. Sprayable wound dressings containing hydrophobized microparticles exhibit strong adhesion. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of hydrophobized microparticles on esophageal stenosis following endoscopic submucosal dissection., Methods: Circumferential esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed on miniature swine (n = 6). Swine were categorized into two groups: those sprayed with hydrophobized microparticles (sprayed group) and those not sprayed (non-sprayed group). Hydrophobized microparticles were sprayed onto the sprayed group on Days 0, 3, and 7 of endoscopic submucosal dissection. The non-sprayed group underwent endoscopy on the same days. Esophageal stricture rate, submucosal inflammatory cell infiltration, submucosal fibrosis, and thickening of the muscular layer were compared between the groups on Day 14 of endoscopic submucosal dissection., Results: Spraying of hydrophobized microparticles was easily performed using an existing endoscopic spraying device. The esophageal stricture rate was significantly lower in the sprayed group than in the non-sprayed group (76.1% versus 90.6%, p < 0.05). The sprayed group showed suppression of inflammatory cell infiltration in the submucosal layer (p < 0.01) and thickening of the muscular layer (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: Sprayable tissue-adhesive hydrophobized microparticles reduce the stricture rate after esophageal ESD by inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, submucosal fibrosis, and thickening of the muscular layer. The use of hydrophobized microparticles for preventing post-endoscopic submucosal dissection esophageal stenosis offers a promising avenue for clinical applications in endoscopic procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: Hiroki Yano, Fumisato Sasaki, Hidehito Maeda, Shohei Uehara, Masayuki Kabayama, Yusuke Fujino, Akihito Tanaka, Makoto Hinokuchi, Shiho Arima, Shinichi Hashimoto, Shuji Kanmura, Shima Ito, Akihiro Nishiguchi, Tetsushi Taguchi, and Akio Ido declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Proactive esophageal cooling reduces injury during radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the left atrium (LA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). New catheters are capable of higher wattage settings up to 90 W (very high-power short duration, vHPSD) for 4 s. Varying power and duration, however, does not eliminate the risk of thermal injury. Furthermore, alternative energy sources such as pulsed field ablation (PFA) also exhibit thermal effects, with clinical data showing esophageal temperatures up to 40.3°C. The ensoETM esophageal cooling device (Attune Medical, now a part of Haemonetics, Boston, MA, U.S.A.) is commercially available and FDA-cleared to reduce thermal injury to the esophagus during RF ablation for AF and is recommended in the 2024 expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of AF., Areas Covered: This review summarizes growing evidence of esophageal cooling during high power RF ablation for AF treatment, including data relating to procedural efficacy, safety, and efficiency, and techniques to enhance operator success while providing directions for further research., Expert Opinion: Proactive esophageal cooling reduces injury to the esophagus during high power RF ablation, and utilizing this approach may result in increased success in first-pass isolation, procedural efficiency, and long-term efficacy.

Introduction: Esophagectomy is a lifesaving procedure plagued by an anastomotic leak rate of 11%-35%. Ischemia is widely accepted to be the most significant risk factor for anastomotic leak. We hypothesized that the injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) into an ischemic esophagogastric anastomosis would prevent leakage., Methods: We developed a leaking ischemic esophagogastric anastomosis model in pigs using indocyanine green and the Elevision device to quantify perfusion. Anastomoses created using a gastric conduit with a relative perfusion of 50%-60% produced an anastomosis that consistently leaked (n = 3) compared to nonischemic controls (n = 3). We then injected either human (n = 2) or porcine (n = 2) ASCs around an ischemic anastomosis. We analyzed clinical outcomes including postoperative sepsis, weight loss, and disruption of the anastomosis and histopathology as well as immunohistochemistry., Results: All of the ischemic controls (3/3, 100%), as well as the xenograft human ASC-injected experimental group (2/2, 100%), became septic postoperatively and were found to have an anastomotic breakdown or disruption on necropsy. However, in the porcine allograft ASC-injected experimental group, the animals did well, with none of the subjects experiencing postoperative sepsis, and none were found to have disrupted anastomoses on necropsy. Histopathology revealed improved apposition of the anastomosis and immunohistochemistry revealed improved epithelization and submucosal fibrosis of the porcine ASC group compared to ischemic and human ASC groups., Conclusions: Allogenic ASCs prevented anastomotic leakage of esophagogastric anastomosis in a porcine ischemic esophagectomy model., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Current classification of achalasia does not account for variability in esophageal tortuosity. The esophageal length-to-height ratio (LHR) was developed to objectively quantify tortuosity, based on the premise that the esophagus must elongate to become tortuous. Hence, we assess the relationship of esophageal tortuosity, measured by LHR, to preoperative patient characteristics and post-myotomy outcomes, including longitudinal symptom relief and esophageal emptying., Methods: From 01/2014 to 01/2020, 420 eligible adult patients underwent myotomy for achalasia at our institution, 216 (51%) Heller myotomy and 204 (49%) per-oral endoscopic myotomy. LHR was measured on pre- and first postoperative timed barium esophagram (TBE), with larger values signifying greater tortuosity. Variable predictiveness and risk-adjusted longitudinal estimates of symptom relief (Eckardt score ≤ 3) and complete emptying, in relation to LHR and manometric subtype, were estimated., Results: Median [15th, 85th percentile] preoperative LHR was 1.04 [1.01, 1.10]. Preoperative esophageal width > 3 cm and age > 68 years were most predictive of increased LHR. Increased LHR corresponded with decreases in longitudinal postoperative symptom relief and complete esophageal emptying, with a 4% difference in symptom relief and 20% difference in complete emptying, as LHR increased from 1.0 to 1.16. After adjusting for patient factors, including LHR, manometric subtype was less predictive of symptom relief, with estimated symptom relief occurring in 4% fewer patients with Type III achalasia, compared to Types I and II. Overall, LHR decreased following myotomy in patients with an initially tortuous esophagus., Conclusion: Length-to-height ratio was the only variable highly predictive of both longitudinal post-myotomy symptom relief and complete esophageal emptying, whereas manometric subtype was less predictive. These findings highlight the importance of tortuosity in the treatment of patients with achalasia, suggesting that inclusion of esophageal morphology in future iterations of achalasia classification is warranted., Competing Interests: Declarations. Disclosures: Drs. Barron, Jain, Moon, Blackstone, Tasnim, Sanaka, Sudarshan, Baker, Murthy, Raja and Mr. Toth no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: The aim of this study was to introduce the Esophagus-Sparing Anastomotic Narrowing Revision (ESANR) technique for the intraoperative management of anastomotic narrowing and to conduct a literature review to provide an algorithm for the management of narrowing and strictures that may develop secondary to esophagojejunostomy., Methods: Three patients with anastomotic narrowing during esophagojejunostomy were analyzed between September 2019 and June 2024. The anastomotic narrowing was detected by intraoperative gastroscopy after reconstruction. The ESANR technique was performed for the management of anastomotic narrowing. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies published up to June 2024 related to the treatment of anastomotic stricture. Data on the number of patients, sex, age, type of anastomosis, treatment, and outcomes were collected., Results: The ESANR technique proved effective for the management of anastomotic narrowing in patients who underwent esophagojejunostomy during gastric cancer surgery. No anastomotic stricture or leakage was found following ESANR, and all three patients recovered without complications. 12 studies with a total of 174 patients were analyzed. The management of anastomotic stricture, which included Balloon Dilation (BD), Endoscopic Incision Therapy (EIT), stent placement, Endoscopic combination therapy (Needle-Knife stricturotomy NKS, Balloon Dilation with Triamcinolone Injection TAC), and re-do laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy., Conclusions: In conclusion, the ESANR technique demonstrates potential advantages in addressing anastomotic narrowing in esophagojejunostomy. However, further clinical data and analyses are necessary to verify its effectiveness and establish robust statistical support., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the ethics committee of Nanchong Central Hospital and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. Informed consent to be included in the study, or the equivalent, was obtained from all patients. Consent for publication: Written informed consents were obtained from the patients for publication of the three case reports and any accompanying images. Three copies of the written consents are available for review by the Editor of this journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) is still limited because intracorporeal oesophagojejunostomy is technically demanding and difficult in laparoscopic gastrectomy. Circular-stapled anastomosis is considered the "gold standard" method for oesophagojejunostomy in open total gastrectomy. A purse-string suture instrument is used to create a purse-string suture along the distal oesophagus as a standard technique for classic circular-stapled oesophagojejunostomy in the open total gastrectomy. However, a simple and optimal laparoscopic purse-string suture device or instrument with an appropriate and optimal tube in the abdomen remains to be developed as a standard procedure for simple intracorporeal oesophagojejunostomy., Study Design: Between May 2023 and October 2023, a new laparoscopic purse-string suture clamp (Lap-PSC) and multi-functional seal cap (MSC) were applied to obtain a simple intracorporeal circular-stapled oesophagojejunostomy after laparoscopic total gastrectomy in 21 patients with gastric cancer in our hospital. The surgical details and postoperative outcomes were analyzed to evaluate this method., Results: The mean operation time was 203.8 ± 39.1 min. The mean time for the purse-string suture was 6.6 ± 2.8 min. An average of 13 min was required for purse-string creation and anvil placement. Tumor-free margins were obtained in 21 patients, with a median proximal margin length of 2 cm (range, 1.5-5 cm). Four postoperative complications occurred in this study. There was no mortality. During the median follow-up periods of 11 months, no anastomosis-related complications were observed., Conclusions: The standardized single-stapling end-to-side oesophagojejunostomy in open surgery can be easily and safely performed during LTG using both Lap-PSC and MSC. The procedure using Lap-PSC with MSC may be considered as a better procedure to option in LTG., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: The study was approved by IRB of Hanzhong Central Hospital, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China (2023 Ethical Review No. 30) and adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and its revisions. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Gastric cancer (GC) treatment is increasingly undergoing laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) procedures. However, we conducted this research to evaluate postoperative outcomes, particularly surgical complications associated with intracorporeal and extracorporeal esophagojejunostomies using linear or circular stapling techniques following LTG for GC treatment. We aimed to compare short-term postoperative outcomes, such as surgical complications and anastomotic outcomes, between the two groups. Method From January 2020 to August 2022, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 160 consecutive patients diagnosed with GC who received either IEJ (n = 35) or EEJ (n = 125) during LTG. We utilized the Mann-Whitney U test to ascertain the statistical significance between the two groups. For comparing categorical variables, including numbers and percentages, we employed either the Pearson chi-square test, continuity correction, or Fisher's exact test as appropriate.ResultsThe operative time was similar (IEJ: 184.57 ± 36.489 vs. EEJ: 189.22 ± 43.584; P = 0.565), however, the number of positive lymph nodes was performed more in the IEJ group (IEJ: 4.71 ± 6.114 vs. EEJ: 6.39 ± 9.067 (P = 0.305). The blood loss in the IEJ group was lower than that of the EEJ (IEJ: 73.1429.182 vs. EEJ: 100.6461.693 mL, P = 0.012). There were three anastomosis leakages in the EEJ and one in the IEJ group (EEJ, 3.2% vs. IEJ, 2.8%; P > 0.999). Anastomosis bleeding only occurred in the EEJ (EEJ 1%; P = 0.003). Although the EEJ linear stapling technique had two deaths (EEJ, 1.6%).ConclusionAlthough EEJ is frequently utilized in the linear stapling technique, research indicates that the use of IEJ minimizes the incidence of complications in LTG., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) for esophageal stenosis requires the insertion of magnets through two channels, transoral and transgastrostomy. Herein, we designed a Y-Z deformable self-assembled magnetic anastomosis ring (Y-Z DSAMAR) for esophageal stricture anastomosis through the transoral passage only. We introduce a Y-Z DSAMAR and verify its feasibility for single-access esophageal stenosis anastomosis in isolated organs. We procured esophagi from 10 pigs. Next, we ligated the middle part of these esophagi with 7 - 0 silk to prepare an esophageal stenosis model. The linear Y-Z DSAMAR completed the deformation self-assembly and transitioned from its initial linear shape to a circular one while passing through the esophageal stenosis. The operation time, the success rate of the deformation self-assembly of Y-Z DSAMARs, and the successful MCA for esophageal stenosis were recorded. We successfully obtained a trapezoidal magnetic unit. Ten such magnetic units can self-assemble into a ring after the hard guide wire is withdrawn. The success rates for both self-assembly deformation and esophageal stenosis anastomosis were 93.33%, while that for esophageal stenosis anastomosis with successful deformation was 100%. Y-Z DSAMARs exhibit remarkable deformation-controllable characteristics. Further optimization of the operational procedure and verification through animal experiments are needed before they can be clinically applied., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Objective: Evaluate implementation of an institutional protocol to reduce the time to removal of esophageal button battery (BB) and increase use of mitigation strategies., Methods: We developed a protocol for esophageal BB management [Zakai's Protocol (ZP)]. All cases of esophageal BB impaction managed at a tertiary care center before and after implementation from 2011 to 2023 were reviewed. Time to BB removal, adherence to critical steps, and use of mitigation strategies (honey/sucralfate, acetic acid) were evaluated., Results: Fifty-one patients (38 pre-ZP, 13 post-ZP) were included. Median age was 2.3 years (IQR 1.3-3.4). After implementation, the time from arrival at the institution to arrival in the operating room (OR) reduced by 4.2 h [4.6 h (IQR 3.9-6.5) to 0.4 h (IQR 0.3-0.6), p < 0.001] and there was improvement in all management steps. The number of referrals direct to otolaryngology increased from 51% to 92%, arrival notification increased from 86% to 100%, avoidance of second x-ray increased from 63% to 100%, and direct transfer to OR increased from 92% to 100%. Adherence to mitigation strategies such as preoperative administration of honey or sucralfate increased from 0% to 38%, intraoperative use of acetic acid from 3% to 77%, and nasogastric tube insertion from 53% to 92%., Conclusion: Implementation of ZP substantially reduced the time to BB removal and the use of mitigation strategies in our tertiary care institution. Additional strategies focused on prevention of BB ingestion, and shortening the transfer time to the tertiary care hospital are required to prevent erosive complications., Level of Evidence: 3, Case-series Laryngoscope, 134:5170-5177, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: The management of neonates with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) combined with distal congenital esophageal strictures (CES) is challenging. We sought to review our approach for this rare set of anomalies., Methods: We reviewed children with LGEA + CES surgically treated at two institutions (2018-2024). LGEA repair was performed using the Foker technique (traction-induced esophageal lengthening). A CES strategy was chosen based on preoperative evaluations and intraoperative findings. The configuration and length of the CES were assessed using retrograde flexible esophagoscopy via gastrostomy with contrast fluoroscopy., Results: Eight patients (75% male) with LGEA + CES were treated: Four had type A and four had type B EA. Median gap length was 3.5 cm. Three underwent thoracoscopic esophageal lengthening. After a median follow-up of 18 months (IQR: 9-25), all retained their native esophagus. However, those who had CES resection concurrent with the lengthening process or at the time of EA anastomosis had more challenging perioperative courses: one required additional time on traction and another required esophageal anastomotic stricture resection., Conclusions: Our experience with LGEA and distal CES emphasizes tailoring surgical approaches to each patient's unique condition, avoiding a one-size-fits-all strategy. However, if the esophageal tissue above the distal CES is in good condition, our preference has shifted towards retaining the CES during traction, performing gentle dilation at anastomosis time, and conducting definitive endoscopic management subsequently. We would caution against making the assumption that salvage of the native esophagus is not possible or that resection of the CES is always needed., Level of Evidence: Level III., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors have no sources of financial support or conflicts of interest that are relevant to this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify characteristics of patients who have poor improvement in symptoms following surgical management of Zenker Diverticulum (ZD)., Methods: Prospective, multicenter cohort study of all individuals enrolled in the Prospective OUtcomes of Cricopharyngeus Hypertonicity (POUCH) Collaborative who underwent surgical repair of ZD between August 2017 and January 2024. Patient demographics, esophagrams, and the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) pre- and post-procedure were obtained from a REDCap database. t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the characteristics. Patients with <50% improvement in their EAT-10 scores were deemed surgical nonresponders (SNRs). Those with ≥50% improvement in their EAT-10 scores were deemed surgical responders (SRs)., Results: A total of 184 patients were prospectively followed after undergoing either open or endoscopic surgical management. Twenty-two patients (12%) were deemed SNRs. Preoperative presence of a hiatal hernia was statistically significant characteristic between the SNRs (63.6%) and SRs (32.1%) (p = 0.004). Size of the ZD and history of previous ZD surgery was not a significant characteristic. The length of stay and complication rate were not statistically different between the groups., Conclusion: Coexistent esophageal pathology may lead to poor symptomatic improvement following ZD surgery. Preoperative workup of other esophageal disorders is recommended to detect likely SNRs. For SNRs, further esophageal workup may be necessary to evaluate for other esophageal causes related to poor symptomatic improvement following ZD surgery., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4897-4902, 2024., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Accidental swallowing of fish bone is one of the most common emergencies in the otolaryngology department. The impacted fish bones are usually found in the palatine tonsil, base of the tongue, valleculae, pyriform sinus, and esophagus, which can be successfully removed after a thorough examination. However, in some cases, the fish bone may penetrate into the neck soft tissue and migrate to extraluminal organs, causing infection, abscess formation, or rupture of vessels. In such cases, prompt recognition and immediate removal of the impacted fish bone are necessary. Herein, we report a rare case of a 60-year-old woman who had accidently swallowed a fish bone 10 days prior to visiting the outpatient department. The fiberoptic scope and head and neck computed tomography scans were obtained from the outpatient department. The fish bone was found to migrate from the upper esophagus to the left thyroid gland. First, a rigid esophageal endoscopy was performed in the operating room, but no obvious fish bone was noted over the esophagus. Finally, the fish bone was removed via exploratory cervicotomy with left-sided total lobectomy of the thyroid. The patient recovered after the operation, and there were no further complications during the 3 years of follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Background: The traction-induced esophageal growth (Foker) process for the treatment of long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) relies on applying progressive tension to the esophagus to induce growth. Due to its anti-fibrotic and muscle-relaxing properties, we hypothesize that Botulinum Toxin A (BTX) can enhance traction-induced esophageal growth., Methods: A retrospective two-center cohort study was conducted on children who underwent a BTX-enhanced Foker process for LGEA repair from 2021 to 2023. BTX (10 units/ml, 2 units/kg, per esophageal pouch) was applied at the time of traction initiation. Time on traction, complications, and anastomotic outcomes were compared against historical controls (Foker process without BTX) from 2014 to 2021., Results: Twenty infants (LGEA type A:12, B:4, C:4; 35% reoperative; median [IQR] age 3 [2-5] months), underwent BTX-enhanced Foker process (thoracotomy with external traction: 9; minimally invasive [MIS] multi-staged internal traction: 11). Mean gap lengths were similar between BTX-enhanced external and external traction control patients (mean [SD], 50.6 mm [12.6] vs. 44.5 mm [11.9], p = 0.21). When compared to controls, the BTX-enhanced external traction process was significantly faster (mean [SD], 12.1 [1.6] days vs. 16.6 [13.2] without BTX, p = 0.04) despite similar preoperative gap lengths. There was no difference in time on traction for those undergoing a minimally invasive process. There were no significant differences in complications or anastomotic outcomes in either cohort., Conclusion: Botulinum toxin may play a role in accelerating the traction-induced esophageal growth process for LGEA repair. Minimizing time on traction can decrease sedation and paralysis burden while on external traction. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of BTX on the esophagus., Level of Evidence: Level III., Type of Study: Retrospective, Two-center, Cohort study., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors have no sources of financial support or conflicts of interest that are relevant to this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A mare was admitted for progressive swelling of the neck, lethargy and anorexia. Radiography revealed perilaryngeal, peritracheal, and periesophageal emphysema. Endoscopy revealed pharyngeal and tracheal roof collapse, and a small laceration on the trachea. Treatment with antimicrobials, fluids, and flunixin was initiated. To prevent exacerbation of the emphysema, temporary tracheostomy was performed. Clipping for the tracheostomy revealed a hoofprint mark on the ventral neck. Subsequent endoscopies revealed laceration of the esophagus and guttural pouch septum communicating with the visceral compartment of the neck. Four days after admission, an esophagostomy was performed to prevent leakage of ingesta into the neck and allow feeding. Complications occurred: Deep cervical infection requiring surgical drainage; Esophageal impaction with shavings on one occasion causing extensive mucosa erosions; Laminitis managed with restricted physical activity and corrective farriery. Tracheostomy tube removal, esophagostomy tube removal, and patient discharge occurred 10, 36 and 51 days after admission, respectively. The mare did well after discharge and returned to competing in children's showing classes. Blunt trauma to the neck can lacerate the trachea, esophagus and guttural pouches causing emphysema and deep cervical infection, which can be treated with antimicrobials, temporary tracheostomy, temporary esophagostomy, surgical drainage, and supportive care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Background: Esophageal strictures following esophageal atresia repair are a source of significant morbidity. To test new therapeutic approaches, we designed a piglet model of esophageal stricture by resecting variable lengths of esophagus with subsequent re-anastomosis. This study describes the model and validates its physiologic impact by blinded analysis of the weight gains of the piglets., Methods: A total of 24 two-week old Pietrain piglets had esophageal resections performed, ranging from 0 to 5 cm, with the goal of inducing postoperative esophageal strictures. Postoperative body-weights were evaluated by repeated analysis of variance followed by pairwise group-comparisons based on estimated marginal means. In addition, body weight was modeled by linear-mixed model regression. Different resection lengths were compared. The esophagi were evaluated postmortem for stricture., Results: Of 24 operated piglets, 23 reached the endpoint, and 90% developed an esophageal stricture that was radiologically visible in a contrast study, as well as appreciable macroscopically in the necropsy. We found differences in pre- and postoperative body weights for all piglets (F (1, 18) = 298.54, p < 0.001), but no differences between resection lengths (F (4, 18) = 0.36, p = 0.837)., Conclusion: Our model of postoperative esophageal stricture offers the opportunity to investigate potential treatments for strictures associated with esophageal atresia, since it reliably induces strictures and results in minimal loss of animals. The similar body weight gain in all groups indicates that stricture is mainly the result of esophageal resection and re-anastomosis, regardless of the length of the resected segment., (© 2024 The Author(s). Animal Models and Experimental Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences.)

Fish bone foreign bodies (FFBs) are relatively common but can present diagnostic challenges. Herein, we report a case of a 43-year-old female who initially presented to the Emergency Department with fever and throat discomfort after a choking incident, which led to a misdiagnosis of a viral infection after negative chest X-ray findings. Persistent symptoms, including new-onset vocal cord paralysis, prompted further investigation and an otolaryngology - head and neck surgery referral one month later. During the otolaryngology visit eight months after the initial incident, laryngoscopy revealed left true vocal cord paralysis and a subsequent CT scan revealed a 2.3 cm fishbone in the esophagus. Surgical removal involved flexible esophagoscopy and open neck exploration with careful dissection to avoid vascular injury. This case highlights the limitations of initial diagnostic methods, such as X-rays, and the necessity for heightened clinical vigilance and advanced imaging modalities like CT scans for persistent or evolving symptoms, particularly vocal cord paralysis. This case also supports multidisciplinary surgical management in cases of suspected esophageal FFBs involving the internal jugular vein and common carotid artery to prevent serious complications. Laryngoscope, 134:5062-5065, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with voice prosthesis (VP) placement is commonly used to restore voice in laryngectomy patients. The conventional procedure utilizes a rigid esophagoscope to open and visualize the pharyngeal inlet. However, this approach is challenging in patients with postradiation changes, reduced neck extension, or trismus. Here, we demonstrate a modified technique involving flexible endoscopy and endotracheal tube placement to reestablish the TEP tract in a patient with a challenging anatomic profile. This step-by-step video demonstrates retrieval of a dislodged prosthesis and TEP/VP placement under general anesthesia, which results in effective voice restoration. This modified technique can safely and effectively restore voice in patients with difficult exposure., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Complete laryngotracheal separation is a rare life-threatening trauma that may occur due to road traffic accidents. Unfortunately, this injury may be missed if emergency physicians were not aware of its possibility. We present a pediatric patient who had complete laryngotracheal separation and esophageal injury caused by strangulation with a headscarf while riding a four-wheeled motorcycle. The neck on external examination showed only a ligature mark without open wounds. The injury was identified while attempting tracheostomy as the patient had a decreased oxygen saturation and was aphonic. The patient underwent complete airway reconstruction and stenting as well as low tracheostomy with complete reconstruction and anastomosis of the esophagus. The patient was decannulated after a few weeks with the vocal cords in paramedian position and no aspiration. This case demonstrates that early prompt treatment can save the patient's life and result in good functional outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

BackgroundThough robotic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy has been increasingly applied, intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy is still a technical barrier. In this retrospective study, we introduced a double-docking technique for intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy to optimize surgical exposure and facilitate intrathoracic anastomosis. Moreover, we compared the clinical outcomes between the double-docking technique and anastomosis with a single-docking procedure in robotic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.MethodsFrom March 2017 to September 2020, the clinical data of 68 patients who underwent robotic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy were reviewed, including 23 patients who underwent the double-docking technique (double-docking group) and 45 patients who underwent single-docking robotic esophagectomy (single-docking group). All patients were diagnosed with esophageal cancer or gastro-esophageal junction by biopsy before surgery. The technical details of the double-docking technique are described in this article.ResultsThere was no difference in the patient demographics data between the two groups. The median surgical time in the double-docking group was slightly shorter than in the classic group without statistical difference (380 vs. 395 min, p = 0.368). In the double-docking group, the median blood loss was 90 mL, the median number of lymph nodes harvested was 17, and the R0 resection rates were 100% (23/23). There were no differences in the surgical outcomes between the two groups.ConclusionsBased on our experience, the double-docking technique provides good surgical exposure when fashioning anastomosis, and such a technique does not increase the surgical time. Therefore, we believe that the double-docking technique is a safe and effective method for intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy while providing good exposure and ensuring the convenience and reliability of intrathoracic anastomosis.

Background: Tubular anastomosis is commonly used in proximal gastrectomy; however, its use in stage II esophagogastric conjugate cancer is currently unclear. In this study, we investigated the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of Siewert II/III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after modified proximal gastrectomy with tubular esophagogastric anastomosis compared with total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction., Methods: We collected the clinical data of patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy tubular esophagogastric anastomosis (PG-TEA) and total gastrectomy Roux-en-Y reconstruction (TG-RY) from October 2015 to October 2018. The clinical characteristics, postoperative quality of life, nutritional status, and long-term survival outcomes of the two groups were compared., Results: There were 43 patients in the PG-TEA group and 80 patients in the TG-RY group, and there was no significant difference between the baseline data of the groups. The operation time of the PG-TEA group was shorter, there was less intraoperative bleeding, and the feeding time was earlier, which was conducive to postoperative recovery. Reflux esophagitis was more evident in the PG-TEA group than in the TG-RY group, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of anastomotic ulcers or other complications. Three months after surgery, the nutritional status of the PG-TEA group was better than the TG-RY group. By the 6th postoperative month, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Regarding quality of life, the PG-TEA group was superior to the TG-RY group in terms of diarrhea and dumping syndrome. In addition, the PG-TEA group had higher satisfaction with daily life and higher-quality meals. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups., Conclusions: Proximal gastrectomy tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis is a surgical procedure for stage II Siewert type II and III AEG. It achieves similar clinical outcomes to those after total gastrectomy and can be further applied in the clinic., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital. Informed consent was obtained from all study participants before surgery (2024-R164). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Treatment of esophageal cancer in the remnant esophagus after esophagectomy is highly invasive, therefore, early detection and minimally invasive treatment are considered necessary. Consequently, we aimed to clarify the safety and efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for residual esophageal cancer compared to that for esophageal cancer in a normal cervical esophagus. This study involved 47 patients with 59 residual esophageal cancers and 92 patients with 107 cervical esophageal cancers in normal esophagus who underwent ESD between January 2008 and December 2023. Their clinicopathological findings and long-term outcomes were retrospectively collected and evaluated. The median tumor diameter was 13 mm, and the median procedure time was 31 minutes in remnant esophagus group, with no significant difference between the two groups. No serious complications such as perforation, massive intraoperative bleeding, and pneumonia were observed in the remnant group, except for one case of postoperative bleeding. The rates of complete resection and disease specific survival were not significantly different between two groups, with complete resection rate of 86.4% and 5-year disease-specific survival rate of 95.7% in the remnant esophagus group. No local recurrence was observed during the median observation period of 43 months in the remnant esophagus group. ESD for superficial cancer of the remnant esophagus showed a high complete resection rate without serious complications and good local-regional control with no evidence of local recurrence. This indicates that ESD is a safe and useful treatment for superficial cancer of the remnant esophagus., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)