Treatment of thoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks and esophageal perforations with endoluminal stents: efficacy and current limitations.

Background: Intra-thoracic esophageal leakage after esophageal resection or esophageal perforation is a life-threatening event. The objective of this non-randomized observational study was to evaluate the effects of endoluminal stent treatment in patients with esophageal anastomotic leakages or perforations in a single tertiary care center.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients with an intrathoracic esophageal leak, caused by esophagectomy (n = 19), transhiatal gastrectomy (n = 3), laparoscopic fundoplication (n = 2), and iatrogenic or spontaneous perforation (n = 8), undergoing endoscopic stent treatment were evaluated.

Endoscopic ultrasound with conventional probe and miniprobe in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer.

Background: Using an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) miniprobe, even highly stenotic esophageal cancers precluding the passage of a conventional probe can be examined without prior dilatation.

Objective: To assess: (1) staging accuracy of conventional EUS probe and miniprobe, (2) variables influencing staging accuracy, (3) endoscopic features predicting tumor stage.

Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with esophageal cancer undergoing complete surgical resection were included.

Esophageal perforation as a complication of EndoCinch endoluminal gastroplication.

Endoscopic gastroplasty is being promoted as a new minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the case presented here, however, we encountered abdominal perforation as a severe complication of this procedure. Because immediate action was taken when the symptoms developed, and by maintaining close collaboration with the surgeons, it was possible to keep the treatment minimally invasive: the leakage was detected endoscopically and the defect was closed laparoscopically and covered by a fundoplication.