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Radioisotope evaluation of the esophageal remnant and the gastric conduit after gastric pull-up esophagectomy

Johansson, Jan LU ; Sloth, M ; Bajc, M LU and Walther, B LU (1999) In Surgery 125(3). p.297-303
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The act of swallowing after gastric pull-up esophagectomy has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate deglutition in the esophageal remnant and in the gastric conduit in patients who have undergone this operation.

METHODS: The residual radionuclide activity was measured 15 seconds after a swallow in the esophageal remnant and at intervals up to a maximum of 120 minutes after a swallow in the gastric conduit. The scintigraphic rate of transit of a bolus in both areas was compared in patients who had anastomosis in the neck (n = 15) versus patients who had anastomosis in the chest (n = 19). Comparisons were also made between patients with and without symptoms of dysphagia. The... (More)

BACKGROUND: The act of swallowing after gastric pull-up esophagectomy has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate deglutition in the esophageal remnant and in the gastric conduit in patients who have undergone this operation.

METHODS: The residual radionuclide activity was measured 15 seconds after a swallow in the esophageal remnant and at intervals up to a maximum of 120 minutes after a swallow in the gastric conduit. The scintigraphic rate of transit of a bolus in both areas was compared in patients who had anastomosis in the neck (n = 15) versus patients who had anastomosis in the chest (n = 19). Comparisons were also made between patients with and without symptoms of dysphagia. The scintigraphic measurements were also correlated with anastomotic diameters, measured with use of a volumetric balloon insufflation method, at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in esophageal residual radionuclide activity at 15 seconds after a swallow in the groups with anastomosis in the neck versus anastomosis in the chest, with 30% residual activity up to 12 months after operation in both groups (P = .24). In the patients as a whole the 50% gastric conduit emptying time of 44 to 61 minutes did not change during the first postoperative year (P = .12). There was no association between anastomotic diameter and residual activity in the remaining esophagus (P < .126). Moderate and severe dysphagia was reported in only a few patients, and there was no correlation between dysphagic symptoms and retention in the residual esophagus or slower emptying in the gastric conduit.

CONCLUSIONS: The amount of peristaltic activity in the remaining esophagus after esophagectomy with gastric replacement is unaffected by the level of the anastomosis. The gastric conduit empties slowly in all patients, and there is no correlation between the rate of emptying and either anastomotic diameter or symptoms of dysphagia.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Analysis of Variance, Anastomosis, Surgical/methods, Deglutition, Deglutition Disorders/diagnostic imaging, Esophagectomy/methods, Esophagus/diagnostic imaging, Humans, Peristalsis, Radionuclide Imaging, Stomach/diagnostic imaging, Time Factors
in
Surgery
volume
125
issue
3
pages
7 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:10076614
  • scopus:0032897296
ISSN
0039-6060
DOI
10.1016/S0039-6060(99)70240-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
088f280e-a2d7-4e5f-80f4-468cd90343fb
date added to LUP
2019-05-26 18:59:19
date last changed
2024-01-01 07:43:02
@article{088f280e-a2d7-4e5f-80f4-468cd90343fb,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: The act of swallowing after gastric pull-up esophagectomy has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate deglutition in the esophageal remnant and in the gastric conduit in patients who have undergone this operation.</p><p>METHODS: The residual radionuclide activity was measured 15 seconds after a swallow in the esophageal remnant and at intervals up to a maximum of 120 minutes after a swallow in the gastric conduit. The scintigraphic rate of transit of a bolus in both areas was compared in patients who had anastomosis in the neck (n = 15) versus patients who had anastomosis in the chest (n = 19). Comparisons were also made between patients with and without symptoms of dysphagia. The scintigraphic measurements were also correlated with anastomotic diameters, measured with use of a volumetric balloon insufflation method, at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation.</p><p>RESULTS: There were no significant differences in esophageal residual radionuclide activity at 15 seconds after a swallow in the groups with anastomosis in the neck versus anastomosis in the chest, with 30% residual activity up to 12 months after operation in both groups (P = .24). In the patients as a whole the 50% gastric conduit emptying time of 44 to 61 minutes did not change during the first postoperative year (P = .12). There was no association between anastomotic diameter and residual activity in the remaining esophagus (P &lt; .126). Moderate and severe dysphagia was reported in only a few patients, and there was no correlation between dysphagic symptoms and retention in the residual esophagus or slower emptying in the gastric conduit.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: The amount of peristaltic activity in the remaining esophagus after esophagectomy with gastric replacement is unaffected by the level of the anastomosis. The gastric conduit empties slowly in all patients, and there is no correlation between the rate of emptying and either anastomotic diameter or symptoms of dysphagia.</p>}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Jan and Sloth, M and Bajc, M and Walther, B}},
  issn         = {{0039-6060}},
  keywords     = {{Analysis of Variance; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders/diagnostic imaging; Esophagectomy/methods; Esophagus/diagnostic imaging; Humans; Peristalsis; Radionuclide Imaging; Stomach/diagnostic imaging; Time Factors}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{297--303}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Surgery}},
  title        = {{Radioisotope evaluation of the esophageal remnant and the gastric conduit after gastric pull-up esophagectomy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0039-6060(99)70240-0}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0039-6060(99)70240-0}},
  volume       = {{125}},
  year         = {{1999}},
}