BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of a primary end-to-end pharyngoesophageal anastomosis after standard tumor resection of the cervical esophagus by acute flexion of the neck. METHODS: A total of 34 consecutive patients with primary cervical esophageal cancer, none having received prior radio- or chemotherapy, were treated by two methods based on intraoperative findings. In 18 patients, reconstruction after esophageal resection was carried out by the standard gastric pull-through technique (control group). In 16 patients, acute flexion of the neck after tumor resection allowed for reconstruction by primary end-to-end pharyngoesophagostomy (experimental group). RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in either group. The mean operative time for the experimental group was about 50 minutes less compared to the control group. Self-limited postoperative anastomotic leakage in the neck was twice as common in the experimental group. Postoperative dysphagia was about three times as common in the experimental group [5 patients (31%)] compared to the control group [2 patients (11%)]. CONCLUSION: In selected cases, segmental resection of primary cervical esophageal cancers reconstructed by end-to-end pharyngoesophagostomy is technically feasible by bending the neck acutely forward during anastomosis and maintaining it in the flexed position during a postoperative period of about 7 days. The advantages are reduced scope and duration of the operation. The downside is doubling of the frequency of postoperative cervical leakage.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of a primary end-to-end pharyngoesophageal anastomosis after standard tumor resection of the cervical esophagus by acute flexion of the neck. METHODS: A total of 34 consecutive patients with primary cervical esophageal cancer, none having received prior radio- or chemotherapy, were treated by two methods based on intraoperative findings. In 18 patients, reconstruction after esophageal resection was carried out by the standard gastric pull-through technique (control group). In 16 patients, acute flexion of the neck after tumor resection allowed for reconstruction by primary end-to-end pharyngoesophagostomy (experimental group). RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in either group. The mean operative time for the experimental group was about 50 minutes less compared to the control group. Self-limited postoperative anastomotic leakage in the neck was twice as common in the experimental group. Postoperative dysphagia was about three times as common in the experimental group [5 patients (31%)] compared to the control group [2 patients (11%)]. CONCLUSION: In selected cases, segmental resection of primary cervical esophageal cancers reconstructed by end-to-end pharyngoesophagostomy is technically feasible by bending the neck acutely forward during anastomosis and maintaining it in the flexed position during a postoperative period of about 7 days. The advantages are reduced scope and duration of the operation. The downside is doubling of the frequency of postoperative cervical leakage.
Authors: Armando De Virgilio; Andrea Costantino; Carlo Castoro; Giuseppe Spriano; Bianca Maria Festa; Giuseppe Mercante; Davide Franceschini; Ciro Franzese; Marta Scorsetti; Andrea Marrari; Raffaele Cavina; Salvatore Marano Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2022-08-15 Impact factor: 3.236