To compare postoperative events and oncologic results between minimally invasive gastrectomy (MIG) and open gastrectomy (OG) in gastric cancer surgery. Evidence of the short-term and long-term results of MIG is still limited. A population-based cohort study included all patients undergoing elective gastric cancer resection with curative intent between 2014 and 2021 across 39 centers belonging to the EURECCA Spanish Registry. Postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed in the groups of MIG and OG using propensity score matching (1:1). Subtotal gastrectomy (SG) versus total gastrectomy (TG) was also assessed. A total of 1333 matched-pair patients were included. The use of MIG increased significantly from 2017. The comparison of OG and MIG showed similar results for overall complications (47.4% vs 44.7%), major complications (19.1 vs 18.2%), 90-day mortality (4.4% vs 3.2%), and failure to rescue (23.1% vs 17.3%), but the MIG group showed significantly shorter median length of hospitalization (P < 0.001) in the overall study population (8 vs 10 days) as well as in the subgroups of SG (7 vs 8 days) and TG (10 vs 11 days), and higher ≥ 15 nodes retrieval (84.2% vs 78.8%, P < 0.001). Anastomotic leakage after TG was high (about 17%) and did not differ between surgical approaches. Also, MIG and OG showed similar 5-year OS (62% vs 64.6%) and DFS (58.5% vs 56.5%). The implementation of MIG did not increase complications and showed similar oncologic outcomes as compared with OG.

OBJECTIVE:To compare postoperative events and oncologic results between minimally invasive gastrectomy (MIG) and open gastrectomy (OG) in gastric cancer surgery. BACKGROUND:Evidence of the short-term and long-term results of MIG is still limited. METHODS:A population-based cohort study included all patients undergoing elective gastric cancer resection with curative intent between 2014 and 2021 across 39 centers belonging to the EURECCA Spanish Registry. Postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed in the groups of MIG and OG using propensity score matching (1:1). Subtotal gastrectomy (SG) versus total gastrectomy (TG) was also assessed. RESULTS:A total of 1333 matched-pair patients were included. The use of MIG increased significantly from 2017. The comparison of OG and MIG showed similar results for overall complications (47.4% vs 44.7%), major complications (19.1 vs 18.2%), 90-day mortality (4.4% vs 3.2%), and failure to rescue (23.1% vs 17.3%), but the MIG group showed significantly shorter median length of hospitalization ( P < 0.001) in the overall study population (8 vs 10 days) as well as in the subgroups of SG (7 vs 8 days) and TG (10 vs 11 days), and higher ≥ 15 nodes retrieval (84.2% vs 78.8%, P < 0.001). Anastomotic leakage after TG was high (about 17%) and did not differ between surgical approaches. Also, MIG and OG showed similar 5-year OS (62% vs 64.6%) and DFS (58.5% vs 56.5%). CONCLUSIONS:The implementation of MIG did not increase complications and showed similar oncologic outcomes as compared with OG.

INTRODUCTION:Gastric ischemic conditioning (GIC) before Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for cancer is associated with improved short-term outcomes, reducing the incidence and severity of anastomotic leakage (AL). The aim of this study was to explore the impact of GIC on long-term outcomes after esophageal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This randomized, single-center, controlled, parallel-group, pilot clinical trial included two groups: (1) GIC before Ivor Lewis esophagectomy and (2) surgery alone (SA). The primary endpoint was anastomotic stricture. Secondary endpoints included oral intake, reconstructive surgery following gastroplasty excision, chronic AL, airway fistulation, mortality, overall survival (OS), and recurrence rates at 1, 3, and 5 y. RESULTS:Between 2015 and 2018, 38 patients were randomized and analyzed: 20 in the GIC group and 18 in the SA group. No cases of anastomotic stricture were observed. At the last follow-up, 90% of patients in the GIC group and 72.2% in the SA group achieved complete oral intake (P = 0.222). Among the four patients who required gastric conduit excision, only one underwent reconstructive surgery. Deaths due to chronic anastomotic leaks included one in the GIC group and two in the SA group. OS (GIC: 55% versus SA: 36%; P = 0.166) and disease-free survival (GIC: 50% versus SA: 36.8%; P = 0.411) were similar between the groups. Mortality due to disease recurrence was also comparable (GIC: 45% versus SA: 50%; P = 0.758). Patients without gastric conduit failure had significantly better survival (10% versus 55.8%; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS:Long-term results of the APIL_2013 trial revealed comparable outcomes between groups for anastomotic stricture, airway fistulation, chronic AL, overall and disease-free survival, and recurrence rates. However, patients without gastric conduit failure have better OS.

INTRODUCTION:Preoperative gastric ischemic conditioning (IC) improves the outcome of esophageal replacement gastroplasty and is associated with low morbidity. However, when the stomach cannot be used for esophageal replacement, a colonic replacement is required. The study aim was to assess the viability of right colon and terminal ileum IC in a rat model and the histological damage/recovery sequence and determine if neovascularization is a potential adaptive mechanism.METHODS:The study was conducted in Rattus norvegicus with ileocolic vascular ligation. Seven groups of animals were established (6 rats per group) with groups defined by the date of their post-IC euthanasia (+1, +3, +6, +10, +15, and +21 days). Comparisons were made with a sham group. Viability of the model was defined as <10% of transmural necrosis. The evaluation of histological damage used the Chiu score in hematoxylin and eosin sections of paraffin-embedded specimens with CD31 immunohistochemical assessment of neovascularization by the median of submucosal vessel counts in 5 high-magnification fields.RESULTS:Transmural colon necrosis occurred in 1/36 animals (2.78%) with no animal demonstrating transmural ileal necrosis. The maximum damage was observed in the colon on +1 day post-IC (average Chiu score 1.67, p = 0.015), whereas in the ileum, it was on days +1, +3, and +6 (average Chiu score 1.5, 1.3, and 1.17; p = 0.015, 0.002, and 0.015, respectively). In the +21-day group, histological recovery was complete in the colon in 4 (66.7%) of the 6 animals and in the ileum in 5 (83.3%) of 6 animals. There were no significant differences in quantitative neovascularization in any of the groups when compared with the sham group or when comparisons were made between groups.CONCLUSIONS:The tested animal model for IC of the colon and terminal ileum appeared to be feasible. Histological damage was maximal between the 1st and 3rd day following IC, but by day 21, recovery was complete in two-thirds of the rats. There was no evidence in this preliminary IC model that would suggest neovascularization as an adaptive mechanism.

Purpose Molecular analysis of peritoneal fluid in staging laparoscopy of gastric cancer is performed to improve the detection of free intraperitoneal tumor cells. Nevertheless, its significance is controversial, especially in patients with negative cytology but positive molecular analysis. The aim of this study was to analyze the sensitivity of molecular analysis and its prognostic value. Methods A retrospective analysis from April 2011 to October 2019 was performed. Cytology (Cyt) and molecular analysis were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) tumor makers. Results During the study period, 138 staging laparoscopies were performed. Macroscopic carcinomatosis was found in 12.3%. Of the remaining 87.7%, 9.9% were Cyt + and 11.6% were Cyt- RT-PCR + . Of the latter, 9 responded to chemotherapy and underwent radical surgery. The sensitivity of cytology and molecular analysis was 0.70 and 0.76, respectively (p = 0.67). The 2-year overall survival (OS) of Cyt- RT-PCR + vs. Cyt + was similar (p = 0.1). The 2-year OS of Cyt-RT-PCR + subgroup who underwent radical surgery vs. Cyt-RT-PCR- patients was similar (p = 0.69), but disease-free survival was shorter in the first group (p = 0.005). Conclusion Our results show that the sensitivity of molecular analysis is similar to that of cytology. The prognostic value of positive molecular analysis was similar to positive cytology in terms of 2-year overall survival, except in the subgroup of operated patients in whom the overall survival was similar to that of those with a negative molecular analysis, albeit with a shorter disease-free survival.

Introduction: Esophageal reconstruction is a very complex surgical procedure, burdened by significant morbidity. Gastroplasty and coloplasty have classically been used. Free jejunal plasty has shown to be a very good option in the treatment of cervical esophagus pathology, but the role of supercharged jejunoplasty in thoracic esophagus reconstruction is still controversial. Methods: A retrospective study of esophageal reconstructions with jejunoplasties performed in our unit between January 2011 and December 2019. Epidemiological data, indications, surgical technique, and morbidity and mortality were analyzed. Results: 67 procedures of esophageal reconstruction were performed, 10 of which were jejunoplasties: 5 free jejunums and 5 supercharged. Morbidity, mortality, mean stay and withdrawal time from enteral feeding were lower in free than in supercharged jejunums. Conclusions: Supercharged jejunoplasty was the last option for reconstruction of the thoracic esophagus. Median sternotomy access provides an excellent approach to the anterior mediastinum and the internal mammary vessels. The free jejunum would be the first choice, with the indemnity of the rest of the esophagus, in the reconstruction of the cervical esophagus. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. on behalf of AEC.

La reconstrucción esofágica es un proceso quirúrgico técnicamente muy complejo, gravado por una importante morbilidad. Clásicamente se han utilizado la gastroplastia y la coloplastia, aunque la yeyunoplastia ya fue descrita por Roux en 1907. Parece demostrado que la plastia de yeyuno libre es una muy buena opción en el tratamiento de la enfermedad del esófago cervical, pero no está tan claro el papel de la yeyunoplastia supercharged en la reconstrucción del esófago torácico. El objetivo de este estudio es el análisis de las reconstrucciones esofágicas realizadas en nuestra unidad y que precisaron de un injerto de yeyuno. Estudio retrospectivo de las reconstrucciones esofágicas realizadas con yeyunoplastias en nuestra unidad entre enero de 2011 y diciembre de 2019. Se analizan datos epidemiológicos, indicaciones, técnica quirúrgica y morbimortalidad. Se realizaron 67 procedimientos quirúrgicos de reconstrucción esofágica compleja de los que 10 fueron yeyunoplastias: 5 yeyunos libres en esófago cervical y 5 supercharged en esófago torácico con abordaje transesternal. La morbilidad, mortalidad, estancia media y tiempo de retirada de la alimentación enteral fueron menores en los yeyunos libres que en los supercharged . En nuestro grupo la yeyunoplastia supercharged es la última opción para la reconstrucción del esófago torácico; el acceso por esternotomía media nos permite un excelente abordaje del mediastino anterior y los vasos mamarios internos. El yeyuno libre sería la primera elección —con indemnidad del resto de esófago— en la reconstrucción del esófago cervical. Esophageal reconstruction is a very complex surgical procedure, burdened by significant morbidity. Gastroplasty and coloplasty have classically been used. Free jejunal plasty has shown to be a very good option in the treatment of cervical esophagus pathology, but the role of supercharged jejunoplasty in thoracic esophagus reconstruction is still controversial. A retrospective study of esophageal reconstructions with jejunoplasties performed in our unit between January 2011 and December 2019. Epidemiological data, indications, surgical technique, and morbidity and mortality were analyzed. 67 procedures of esophageal reconstruction were performed, 10 of which were jejunoplasties: 5 free jejunums and 5 supercharged. Morbidity, mortality, mean stay and withdrawal time from enteral feeding were lower in free than in supercharged jejunums. Supercharged jejunoplasty was the last option for reconstruction of the thoracic esophagus. Median sternotomy access provides an excellent approach to the anterior mediastinum and the internal mammary vessels. The free jejunum would be the first choice, with the indemnity of the rest of the esophagus, in the reconstruction of the cervical esophagus.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Preoperative gastric conditioning (GC) improves blood perfusion of the gastroplasty, one of the most important factors for anastomotic viability. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility of GC before oesophageal surgery in patients with oesophageal cancer or Siewert I-II esophagogastric junction cancer, who required an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.Materials and methods: This was a randomized (1:1), open-label, single-centre, controlled, parallel-group, pilot clinical trial. Two study groups: 1) GC-group: patients who underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy and GC before surgery; 2) Surgery alone (SA)-group: patients who underwent only Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. Feasibility was assessed by means of the number of patients in whom a GC was performed, and the cumulative incidence of postoperative AL. Secondary endpoints were conduit necrosis (CN), hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and anastomotic stricture.Results: Between 2015 and 2018, 38 patients were randomized and analysed: 20 to GC-group and 18 to SA-group. 17 GCs (85%) were successfully performed, right gastric artery occlusion failed in three patients. Morbidity after GC occurred in 5/22 patients (all Clavien-Dindo <= IIIa). The cumulative incidence of AL was 15.0% (3/20, 95% CI: 5.2-36.0%) in GC-group and 33.3% (6/18, 95%CI: 16.3-56.3%) in SA-group, p-value: 0.184. CN: 0/20 vs. 1/ 18 (p-value: 0.474); surgical morbidity (Clavien-Dindo III-V): 7/20 vs. 12/18 (p-value: 0.070); hospital stay (median [range] days): 12 [9-45] vs. 27.5 [10-166] (p-value: 0.067). When only successful GCs (three arteries) were included for analysis, ischemia-related gastric conduit failure (AL and CN) was lower in the GC group (pvalue: 0.041). Conclusions: Preoperative arteriographic GC before Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is a feasible and safe procedure and seems it may reduce AL in patients with oesophageal cancer or Siewert I-II esophagogastric junction cancer.

Background: The concept of textbook outcome (TO) has been proposed for analyzing quality of surgical care. This study assessed the incidence of TO among patients undergoing curative gastric cancer resection, predictors for TO achievement, and the association of TO with survival. Method: All patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers undergoing curative gastrec-tomy between January 2014-December 2017 were identified from a population-based database (Spanish EURECCA Registry). TO included: macroscopically complete resection at the time of operation, R0 resection, >= 15 lymph nodes removed and examined, no serious postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo >= II), no re-intervention, hospital stay <= 14 days, no 30-day readmissions and no 90-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to assess the adjusted achievement of TO. Cox survival regression was used to compare conditional adjusted survival across groups. Results: In total, 1293 patients were included, and TO was achieved in 541 patients (41.1%). Among the criteria, "macroscopically complete resection" had the highest compliance (96.5%) while "no serious complications" had the lowest compliance (63.7%). Age (OR 0.53 for the 65-74 years and OR 0.34 for the >= 75 years age group), Charlson comorbidity index >= 3 (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.34-0.82), neoadjuvant che-moradiotherapy (OR 0.24, 95%CI 0.08-0.70), multivisceral resection (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.33-0.91), and surgery performed in a community hospital (OR 0.65, CI95% 0.46-0.91) were independently associated with not achieving TO. TO was independently associated with conditional survival (HR 0.67, 95%CI 0.55-0.83). Conclusion: TO was achieved in 41.1% of patients who underwent gastric cancer resection with curative intent and was associated with longer survival. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd, BASO - The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.

IntroducciónEl quilotórax es una complicación poco frecuente en las esofagectomías pero que se asocia a un aumento de la mortalidad posquirúrgica. Se han descrito diversos factores que pueden incrementar su aparición y el tratamiento del mismo es controvertido, siendo la linfografía con embolización percutánea del conducto torácico uno de los usados por varios grupos.Material y métodoEstudio retrospectivo de los pacientes a los que se les realizó una esofagectomía por cáncer de esófago o de la unión esofagogástrica a Siewert I/II entre enero del 2010 y abril del 2019, y desarrollaron un quilotórax como complicación. Se analizan datos epidemiológicos, el tipo de cirugía, la morbilidad y el tratamiento.ResultadosSe realizaron 274 esofagectomías por cáncer en el período comprendido. Trece pacientes (4,7%) fueron diagnosticados de quilotórax en el postoperatorio; 3 se resolvieron con tratamiento conservador. En los 10 pacientes restantes se realizó linfografía con punción de la cisterna de Pécquet y embolización del conducto torácico, con resolución del quilotórax en 9. Un paciente (10%) presentó una fístula biliar después del procedimiento.ConclusionesLa linfografía con punción de la cisterna de Pécquet y embolización del conducto torácico es una técnica con baja morbilidad y buenos resultados en la resolución del quilotórax postesofagectomía.

Gastric and small intestine are the most common gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). There are few studies of patients who underwent surgical treatment with disparate findings. We aimed to evaluate the differences between groups and the risk factors for recurrence and mortality. A retrospective study of 96 gastric and 60 small intestine GIST was performed between 1995 and 2015. Both groups were compared in terms of clinicopathologic features, morbidity, recurrence, and mortality. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS®. Eighty-one gastric GISTs and 56 small intestine GISTs underwent surgical treatment. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common cause of emergency surgery being more frequent in gastric GIST (P = 0.009); however, emergency surgery was indicated more frequently in the small intestinal GIST (P = 0.004) and was mostly due to perforation (P = 0.009). With a median follow-up of 66.9 (39.7–94.8) months, 28 (20.4%) patients had recurrence. A mitotic index > 5 (P ≤ 0.001) and the intestinal location (P = 0.012) were significantly associated to recurrence. Tumor size > 15 cm (P = 0.001) and an age of ≥ 75 years (P = 0.014) were associated to mortality. On univariate analysis, higher mean values of Ki-67 were associated to higher mortality (P = 0.0032). Small intestine GIST presented lower disease-free survival (DFS) than that of gastric GIST (65.7% vs 90.8%) with P = 0.003. The overall survival (OS) of gastric and small intestine GIST was 74.7% and 71.6%, respectively (P = 0.68). Small intestine GIST received emergency surgery more frequently showing lower DFS and same OS than that of gastric GIST. We found that Ki-67 could be a prognostic factor. Further studies are necessary to assess whether Ki-67 is a prognostic risk factor for GISTs.

IntroductionChylothorax is a rare complication in esophagectomies that is associated with increased postoperative mortality. Several factors have been described that may favor its appearance. Its treatment is controversial, and lymphography with percutaneous embolization of the thoracic duct is used by several groups.Material and methodOur retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagus or the esophagogastric junction (Siewert I/II) between January 2010 and April 2019 and developed chylothorax as a complication. Epidemiological data, type of surgery, morbidity and treatment were analyzed.Results274 cancer-related esophagectomies were performed in the study period. Thirteen patients (4.7%) were diagnosed with chylothorax in the postoperative period; 3 were resolved with conservative treatment. In the remaining 10 patients, lymphography was performed with aspiration of the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct embolization, which resolved the chylothorax in 9. One patient (10%) presented a biliary fístula after the procedure.ConclusionsLymphography with aspiration of the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct embolization is a technique with low morbidity that provides good results for the resolution of chylothorax after esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION:Oesophageal reconstruction by gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis has a higher incidence of dehiscence. The aim of the study is to analyse the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis following angiographic ischaemic conditioning of the gastric conduit. METHODS:Prospective analysis of patients who underwent gastric conditioning two weeks prior to oesophageal reconstruction, from January 2001 to January 2014. The conditioning was performed by angiographic embolization of the left and right gastric artery, and splenic artery. The main variable analysed was the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis. Secondary variables analysed were the result of the conditioning, complications arising from that procedure and in the postoperative period, and mean length of postconditioning and postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS:Gastric conditioning was indicated in 97 patients, with neoplasia being the most frequent aetiology motivating the oesophageal reconstruction (76%). 96 procedures were successfully carried out, arterial embolization was complete in 80 (83%). The morbidity rate was 13%, with no mortality. Postoperative morbidity was 45%; the most frequent complications associated with the surgery were respiratory problems. Six (7%) patients experienced cervical fistula, and all received conservative treatment. The rate of postoperative mortality was 7%. CONCLUSIONS:In our serie the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing gastroplasty with cervical anastomosis following angiographic ischaemic conditioning is 7%. Angiographic ischaemic conditioning is a procedure with acceptable morbidity.