Eso-Sponge® for anastomotic leakage after oesophageal resection or perforation: outcomes from a national, prospective multicentre registry.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) after oesophagectomy and oesophageal perforations are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive endoscopy is often used as first-line treatment, particularly endoluminal vacuum therapy (EVT). The aim was to assess the performance of the first commercially available endoluminal vacuum device (Eso-Sponge®) in the management of AL and perforation of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

Genome-wide analysis of 944 133 individuals provides insights into the etiology of haemorrhoidal disease.

Objective: Haemorrhoidal disease (HEM) affects a large and silently suffering fraction of the population but its aetiology, including suspected genetic predisposition, is poorly understood. We report the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis to identify genetic risk factors for HEM to date.

Design: We conducted a GWAS meta-analysis of 218 920 patients with HEM and 725 213 controls of European ancestry.

Genome-wide association analysis of diverticular disease points towards neuromuscular, connective tissue and epithelial pathomechanisms.

Objective: Diverticular disease is a common complex disorder characterised by mucosal outpouchings of the colonic wall that manifests through complications such as diverticulitis, perforation and bleeding. We report the to date largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic risk factors for diverticular disease.

Design: Discovery GWAS analysis was performed on UK Biobank imputed genotypes using 31 964 cases and 419 135 controls of European descent.

Treatment of Complicated Anal Fistula by an Endofistular Polyurethane-Sponge Vacuum Therapy: A Pilot Study.

Background: Treatment of supra- and transsphincteric anal fistulas remains a clinical challenge because current treatment results are variable and potentially endanger sphincter function.

Objective: Based on positive results of endoluminal polyurethane-sponge vacuum therapy in the upper and lower GI tract, a new system for endofistular vacuum therapy was developed for anal fistulas to utilize vacuum therapy to remove the endofistular pseudoepithelium and to induce granulation in the fistula tract.

Design: This study is based on a prospective case series.

Long-term quality of life after endovac-therapy in anastomotic leakages after esophagectomy.

Background: Endoluminal vacuum therapy (EVT) has been successfully established with promising survival rates in the treatment of anastomotic leakages after esophagectomy. It is still unclear how this therapy affects health related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: HRQOL was prospectively assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire.