Advanced megaesophagus predisposes to risks of malnutrition infections and cancer, in addition to having a significant impact on quality of life. There is currently no consensus in the literature regarding the best surgical option for advanced megaesophagus, although there is a predilection for esophagectomy, despite this surgery being associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Other surgical procedures, such as esophageal mucosectomy and Heller cardiomyotomy, have been proposed with good results.
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the surgical treatment of advanced megaesophagus.
Databases used included PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (Lilacs), Embase and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MedLine), as well as reference research. Two reviewers selected the articles independently.
A total of 14 articles were chosen, which included 1,862 patients. The studies were divided into two groups: laparoscopic cardiomyotomy with fundoplication (213 patients) and major surgeries (1,649 patients). The studies yielded mostly good or excellent results regarding late outcomes in both groups. However, there was significant morbidity associated with the major surgeries group.
Laparoscopic Heller myotomy can be performed on patients with advanced megaesophagus, with lower rates of complications and mortality compared to major surgeries, with reservations regarding late outcomes results.
HEADINGS:
Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is an essential component of perioperative
care. The use of prophylactic regimens of antibiotics is a well-established practice that is encouraged
to be implemented in preoperative/perioperative protocols in order to prevent surgical site
infections.
The aim of this study was to emphasize the crucial aspects of antibiotic prophylaxis
in abdominal surgery.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is defined as the administration of antibiotics
before contamination occurs, given with the intention of preventing infection by achieving tissue
levels of antibiotics above the minimum inhibitory concentration at the time of surgical incision. It
is indicated for clean operations with prosthetic materials or in cases where severe consequences
may arise in the event of an infection. It is also suitable for all clean-contaminated and contaminated
operations. The spectrum of action is determined by the pathogens present at the surgical site.
Ideally, a single intravenous bolus dose should be administered within 60 min before the surgical
incision. An additional dose should be given in case of hemorrhage or prolonged surgery, according
to the half-life of the drug. Factors such as the patient’s weight, history of allergies, and the likelihood
of colonization by resistant bacteria should be considered. Compliance with institutional protocols
enhances the effectiveness of antibiotic use.
Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is
associated with reduced rates of surgical site infection, hospital stay, and morbimortality.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the digestive tract and has a wide variation in biological behavior; surgical resection remains the main form of treatment.
This study aimed to analyze clinicopathological characteristics and survival of patients with GIST in a reference institution for oncological diseases.
An observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study of patients diagnosed with GIST from January 2011 to January 2020 was carried out by analyzing epidemiological and clinical variables, staging, surgical resection, recurrence, use of imatinib, and curves of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
A total of 38 patients were included. The majority (58%) of patients were males and the median age was 62 years. The primary organs that were affected by this tumor were stomach (63%) and small intestine (17%). Notably, 24% of patients had metastatic disease at diagnosis; 76% of patients received surgical treatment and 13% received neoadjuvant treatment; and 47% of patients received imatinib as adjuvant or palliative therapy. Tumor recurrence was 13%, being more common in the liver. The 5-year OS was 72.5% and DFS was 47.1%. The operated ones had better OS (87.1% vs. 18.5%) and DFS (57.1% vs. 14.3%) in 5 years. Tumor size ≥5 cm had no difference in OS at 5 years, but DFS was 24.6%, when compared with 92.3% of smaller tumors. Patients who were undergoing neoadjuvant therapy and/or using imatinib did not show any significant differences.
Surgical treatment with adequate margins allows the best gain in survival, and the use of imatinib in more advanced cases has prognostic equity with less advanced-stage tumors. Treatment of metastatic tumors seems promising, requiring further studies.
Upper digestive endoscopy is important for the evaluation of patients submitted to fundoplication, especially to elucidate postoperative symptoms. However, endoscopic assessment of fundoplication anatomy and its complications is poorly standardized among endoscopists, which leads to inadequate agreement.
To assess the frequency of postoperative abnormalities of fundoplication anatomy using a modified endoscopic classification and to correlate endoscopic findings with clinical symptoms.
This is a prospective observational study, conducted at a single center. Patients were submitted to a questionnaire for data collection. Endoscopic assessment of fundoplication was performed according to the classification in study, which considered four anatomical parameters including the gastroesophageal junction position in frontal view (above or at the level of the pressure zone); valve position at retroflex view (intra-abdominal or migrated); valve conformation (total, partial, disrupted or twisted) and paraesophageal hernia (present or absent).
One hundred patients submitted to fundoplication were evaluated, 51% male (mean age: 55.6 years). Forty-three percent reported postoperative symptoms. Endoscopic abnormalities of fundoplication anatomy were reported in 46% of patients. Gastroesophageal junction above the pressure zone (slipped fundoplication), and migrated fundoplication, were significantly correlated with the occurrence of postoperative symptoms. There was no correlation between symptoms and conformation of the fundoplication (total, partial or twisted).
This modified endoscopic classification proposal of fundoplication anatomy is reproducible and seems to correlate with symptomatology. The most frequent abnormalities observed were slipped and migrated fundoplication, and both correlated with the presence of symptoms.
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