Post-discharge complications after esophagectomy account for high readmission rates

AIM: To identify rates of post-discharge complications(PDC), associated risk factors, and their influence on early hospital outcomes after esophagectomy.METHODS: We used the 2005-2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program(ACS-NSQIP) database to identify patients ≥ 18 years of age who underwent an esophagectomy. These procedures were categorized into four operative approaches: transhiatal, Ivor-Lewis, 3-holes, and non-gastric conduit. We selected patient data based on clinical relevance to patients undergoing esophagectomy and compared demographic and clinical characteristics. The primary outcome was PDC, and secondary outcomes were hospital readmission and reoperation. The patients were then divided in 3 groups: no complication(Group 1), only pre-discharge complication(Group 2), and PDC patients(Group 3). A modified Poisson regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with developing postdischarge complication, and risk ratios were estimated.RESULTS: 4483 total patients were identified, with 8.9% developing PDC within 30-d after esophagectomy. Patients who experienced complications post-discharge had a median initial hospital length of stay(LOS) of 9 d; however, PDC occurred on average 14 d following surgery. Patients with PDC had greater rates of wound infection(41.0% vs 19.3%, P < 0.001), venous thromboembolism(16.3% vs 8.9%, P < 0.001), and organ space surgical site infection(17.1% vs 11.0%, P = 0.001) than patients with pre-discharge complication. The readmission rate in our entire population was 12.8%. PDC patients were overwhelmingly more likely to have a reoperation(39.5% vs 22.4%, P < 0.001) and readmission(66.9% vs 6.6%, P < 0.001). BMI 25-29.9 and BMI ≥ 30 were associated with increased risk of PDC compared to normal BMI(18.5-25).CONCLUSION: PDC after esophagectomy account for significant number of reoperations and readmissions. Efforts should be directed towards optimizing patient's health pre-discharge, with possible prevention programs at discharge.

Esophageal liposarcoma:Well-differentiated rhabdomyomatous type

Rhabdomyomatous well-differentiated esophageal liposarcomas are extremely rare. As of August 2016, only one other such case has been reported in the English-language medical literature. Liposarcomas in general are one of the most common soft tissue neoplasms in adults, but the incidence of primary esophageal liposarcomas is exceptionally low. There have been only 42 reported cases of primary liposarcoma of the esophagus worldwide thus far. These malignancies are harbored within giant fibrovascular polyps, which slowly grow within the esophageal lumen causing obstructing symptoms. We hereby present the case of a 68-year-old male patient who came in with a 2-mo history of worsening intermittent dysphagia, persistent cough, and postprandial retrosternal pain. After an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a computed tomographic scan, and a diagnostic endoscopy, complete endoscopic resection was performed of the 13 cm &times; 6 cm &times; 2.6 cm fibrovascular polyp. A literature review was done and results are presented herein.

Laparoscopic retrosternal gastric pull-up for fistulized mediastinal mass

We describe the case of a patient successfully reconstructed with laparoscopic retrosternal gastric pull-up after esophagectomy for unresectable posterior mediastinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, eroding into the esophagus and compressing the airways. A partial esophagectomy with esophagostomy was performed for treatment of esophageal pleural fistula and empyema, while the airways were managed with the placement of an endobronchial stent. Gastrointestinal reconstruction was performed using a laparoscopic approach to create a retrosternal tunnel for gastric conduit pull-up and cervical anastomosis. The patient was discharged uneventfully after 6 d, and has done very well at home with normal diet.

Hospitalization for esophageal achalasia in the United States

AIM: To assess the outcome of different treatments in patients admitted for esophageal achalasia in the United States.METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample over an 8-year period(2003-2010). Patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of achalasia were divided into 3 groups based on their treatment:(1) Group 1: patients who underwent Heller myotomy during their hospital stay;(2) Group 2: patients who underwent esophagectomy; and(3) Group 3: patients not undergoing surgical treatment. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay(LOS), discharge destination and total hospital charges.RESULTS: Among 27141 patients admitted with achalasia, nearly half(48.5%) underwent Heller myotomy, 2.5% underwent esophagectomy and 49.0% had endoscopic or other treatment. Patients in group 1 were younger, healthier, and had the lowest mortality when compared with the other two groups. Group 2 had the highest LOS and hospital charges among all groups. Group 3 had the highest mortality(1.2%, P < 0.001) and the lowest home discharge rate(78.8%) when compared to the other groups. The most frequently performed procedures among group 3 were esophageal dilatation(25.9%) and injection(13.3%). Among patients who died in this group the most common associated morbidities included acute respiratory failure, sepsis and aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Surgery for achalasia carries exceedingly low mortality in the modern era; however, in complicated patients, even less invasive treatments are burdened bysignificant mortality and morbidity.

Surgical outcomes of pulmonary resection for lung cancer after neo-adjuvant treatment

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of surgery for lung cancer after induction therapy.METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program(ACSNSQIP) database(2005-2012), we identified 4063 patients who underwent a pulmonary resection for lung cancer. Two hundred and thirty-six(5.8%) received neo-adjuvant therapy prior to surgery(64 chemo-radiation, 103 radiation alone, 69 chemotherapy alone). The outcomes were compared to 3827 patients(94.2%) treated with surgery alone. Primary outcome was 30-d mortality, and secondary outcomes included length of stay, operative time and NSQIP measured postoperative complications.RESULTS: Lung cancer patients who received preoperative treatment were younger(66 vs 69, P < 0.001), were more likely to have experienced recent weight loss(6.8% vs 3.5%; P = 0.011), to be active smokers(48.3 vs 34.9, P < 0.001), and had lower preoperative hematological cell counts(abnormal white blood cell: 25.6 vs 13.4; P < 0.001; low hematocrit 53% vs 17.3%, P < 0.001). On unadjusted analysis, neo-adjuvant patients had significantly higher 30-d mortality, overall and serious morbidity(all P < 0.001). Adjusted analysis showed similar findings, while matched cohorts comparison confirmed higher morbidity, but not higher early mortality.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that patients who receive neo-adjuvant therapy for lung cancer have worse early surgical outcomes. Although NSQIP does not provide stage information, this analysis shows important findings that should be considered when selecting patients for induction treatment.