Medical thoracoscopy and gastroscopy for the treatment of intrathoracic anastomotic leakage following esophagectomy

Abstract

Intrathoracic anastomotic leakage following esophagectomy is extremely difficult to manage appropriately. The outcomes of conservative management strategies are often disappointing, particularly in patients who develop adhesions of the pleural cavity and multiloculated empyema. This study describes a novel approach using combined thoracoscopy and gastroscopy in two cases. Thoracoscopy under local anesthesia was used to dissect the septations within the multiloculated empyema and remove the infected focus by direct visualization, and gastroscopy was subsequently performed to place a nasogastric or sump tube around the leak. The outcomes of both procedures were satisfactory: the empyemas almost completely resolved, the anastomotic leak closed quickly and there was adequate lung re-expansion. Accordingly, the combination of thoracoscopy and gastroscopy for the treatment of intrathoracic anastomotic leak post-esophagectomy may be an effective, safe, minimally-invasive, simple and inexpensive procedure.