Gastric conduit perforation after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy successfully treated with endoscopic vacuum therapy (E-VAC): a case report

Gastric conduit perforation is a life-threatening complication after esophagectomy and currently there is no consensus about its optimal management. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (E-VAC) is a promising technique for the treatment of leaks and perforations after upper gastro-intestinal surgery. We report the case of a 65years-old male patient who underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for esophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma. He referred to our Emergency Department for septic shock and right hydropneumothorax. We performed an emergency thoracoscopy with intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy which showed a pre-pyloric perforation of the gastric conduit. The perforation was initially treated with unsuccessful primary surgical closure and subsequently by means of E-VAC, firstly placed intraluminal and then intracavitary. With the latter technique, we assisted to a progressive clinical improvement until the definitive healing of the perforation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a gastric tube perforation after esophagectomy successfully treated with E-VAC

The "Weekday Effect" on Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol for Gastrectomy

Introduction: While enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol demonstrated to improve outcomes after gastrectomy, some papers evidenced a detrimental effect on postoperative morbidity related to the "weekday effect." We aimed to understand whether the day of gastrectomy could affect postoperative outcomes and compliance with ERAS items. Methods: We included all patients that underwent gastrectomy for cancer between January 2017 and September 2021. Cohort was divided considering the day of surgery: Early group (Monday-Wednesday) and Late group (Thursday-Friday). Compliance with protocol and postoperative outcomes were compared. Results: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were included in Early group, while 154 were in Late group. The groups were comparable in preoperative characteristics. No significant difference in pre/intraoperative and postoperative ERAS items' compliance was apparent between Early and Late groups, with most items exceeding the 70% threshold. Median length of stay was 6.5 days and 6 days in Early and Late groups (p = 0.616), respectively. Morbidity was 50% in both groups, with severe complications that occurred in 13% of Early patients and 15% of Late patients. Ninety-day mortality was 2%, and it was similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In a center with a standardized ERAS protocol, the weekday of gastrectomy has no significant impact on the success of each ERAS item and on postoperative surgical and oncological outcomes

Clinical predictors of postoperative complications in the context of enhanced recovery (ERAS) in patients with esophageal and gastric cancer

The overall frequency of postoperative complications in patients with esophageal and gastric cancer diverges between studies. We evaluated the frequency and assessed the relationship between complications and demographic and clinical features. For this observational study, data were extracted from the ERAS Registry managed by the University of Verona, Italy. Patients were evaluated and compared for postoperative complications according to the consensus-based classification and the Clavien-Dindo scale. The study population was 877 patients: 346 (39.5%) with esophageal and 531 (60.5%) with gastric cancer; 492 (56.2%) reported one or more postoperative complications, 213 (61.6%) of those with esophageal and 279 (52.5%) of those with gastric cancer. When stratified by consensus-based classification, patients with esophageal cancer reported general postoperative complications more frequently (p < 0.001) than those with gastric cancer, but there was no difference in postoperative surgical complications between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression models revealed an association between postoperative complications and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.36), operation time (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI 1.00-1.15), and days to solid diet intake (adjusted OR, 1.39; 95% CI 1.20-1.59). Complications in patients with esophageal and gastric cancer are frequent, even in those treated according to ERAS principles, and are often associated with comorbidities, longer operative time, and longer time to solid diet intake

Molecular Analysis of an Intestinal Neuroendocrine/Non-neuroendocrine Neoplasm (MiNEN) Reveals MLH1 Methylation-driven Microsatellite Instability and a Monoclonal Origin: Diagnostic and Clinical Implications

: Mixed neuroendocrine/non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNEN) are rare mixed epithelial neoplasms in which a neuroendocrine component is combined with a non-neuroendocrine component. Here, we provide the clinical, pathologic, and molecular report of a 73-year-old-man presenting with an intestinal MiNEN. The lesion was composed of a well-differentiated G3 neuroendocrine tumor and a colloid adenocarcinoma. The molecular characterization was performed using a multigene next-generation sequencing panel. The neoplasm displayed microsatellite instability due to MLH1 promoter methylation. The extended molecular profile documented the same mutations affecting ARID1A, ASXL1, BLM, and RNF43 genes in both components, indicating a monoclonal origin of the tumor. Regarding component-specific gene mutations, BRCA2 was specifically altered in the neuroendocrine area. It may represent a new actionable target for precision oncology in MiNEN, but the lack of its alteration in the colloid component calls for further considerations on intratumor heterogeneity. The most important finding with potential immediate implications regards the presence of microsatellite instability: it indicates that this molecular alteration should become part of the diagnostic algorithm for these rare neoplasms