Objective: To evaluate the effects on short-term clinical outcomes and long-term quality of life of laparoscopic-assisted radical proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis versus total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Methods: This was a propensity score matching, retrospective, cohort study. Clinicopathological data of 184 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction admitted to two medical centers in China from January 2016 to January 2021 were collected (147 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and 37 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University). All patients had undergone laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy. They were divided into two groups based on the extent of tumor resection and technique used for digestive tract reconstruction. A proximal gastrectomy with reconstruction by esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group comprised 82 patients and a total gastrectomy with reconstruction by Roux-en-Y anastomosis group comprised 102 patients. These groups differed significantly in the following baseline characteristics: age, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative albumin, tumor length, tumor differentiation, and tumor TNM stage (all P<0.05). To eliminate potential bias caused by unequal distribution between the two groups, 1∶1 matching was performed by the nearest neighbor matching method. The 13 matched variables comprised sex, age, height, body mass, body mass index, preoperative glucose, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative total protein, preoperative albumin, neoadjuvant radiotherapy, tumor length, degree of differentiation, and pathological TNM stage. Postoperative complications, postoperative nutritional status, incidence of reflux esophagitis 1 year after surgery, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results: After propensity score matching, 60 patients each were enrolled in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis groups. The baseline characteristics were comparable between these groups (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in operative time, intraoperative bleeding, time to semifluid diet, postoperative hospital days, tumor length, and total hospital costs (P>0.05). Patients in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group had earlier postoperative gastric tube and abdominal drainage tube removal time than those in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group (t=-2.183, P=0.023 and t=-4.073, P<0.001, respectively). In contrast, significantly fewer lymph nodes were cleared and significantly fewer lymph nodes were positive in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group than in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group (t=-5.754, P<0.001 and t=-2.575, P=0.031, respectively). The incidence of early postoperative complications was 43.3% (26/60) in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group; this is not significantly higher than the 26.7% (16/60) in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group (χ²=3.663，P=0.056). The incidences of pulmonary infection (31.7%, 19/60) and pleural effusion (30.0%, 18/60) were significantly higher in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group than in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group (13.3%, 8/60 and 8.3%, 5/60, respectively); these differences are significant (χ²=8.711, P=0.003 and χ²=11.368, P=0.001, respectively). All early complications were successfully treated before discharge. The incidence of long-term postoperative complications was 20.0% (12/60) in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group and 35.0% (21/60) in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group; this difference is not significant (χ²=3.386，P=0.066). The incidence of reflux esophagitis was 23.3% (14/60) in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group; this is significantly higher than the 1.7% (1/60) in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group (χ²=12.876, P<0.001). Body mass index had decreased significantly in both groups 1 year after surgery compared with preoperatively; however, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). The differences in hemoglobin and albumin concentrations between 1 year postoperatively and preoperatively were not significant (both P>0.05). Quality of life was assessed using the Visick grade. Visick grade I dominated in both groups. The percentage of patients with Visick II and III in the total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis group was 11.7% (7/60), which is significantly lower than the 33.3% (20/60) in the proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis group (χ²=8.076, P=0.004). No patients in either group had a grade IV quality of life. Conclusions: Both proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis laparoscopic-assisted radical surgery for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction are safe and feasible. However, both procedures have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of postoperative complications. The incidence of reflux esophagitis is higher after proximal gastrectomy with esophageal gastric tube anastomosis, whereas the long-term quality of life is lower than that of patients after total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.
Humans ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Retrospective Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Quality of Life ; Propensity Score ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Esophagogastric Junction/surgery* ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of cervical esophagostomy for the treatment of patients with dysphagia induced by radiotherapy, in order to improve the therapeutic effects.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 53 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with dysphagia, who received cervical esophagostomy. The nutritional status of these patients was measured at five given time before and after operation. The occurrence of pneumonia and reflux esophagitis before and after operation was recorded, and the quality of life based on SF-36 quality of life (QOL) scale was studied.

RESULTSAfter operation, the nutritional status of these patients improved substantially, including the weight, levels of hemoglobin, total protein, albumin and transferring (P<0.05). The pneumonia-infection decreased from 60.38% (32/53) before operation to 15.22% (7/46) after operation (χ(2)=21.04, P<0.01). The incidences of reflux esophagitis decreased from 26.42% (14/53)without operation to 6.52% (3/46) after operation (χ(2)=5.00, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the status of physical health, mental health as well as physical function and social function of these patients were improved significantly at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after operation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCervical esophagostomy can improve the life quality of patients with dysphagia induced by radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Carcinoma ; Deglutition Disorders ; complications ; surgery ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; complications ; Esophagostomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; radiotherapy ; Pneumonia ; complications ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) frequently colonizes the stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common and costly disease. But the relationship of H. pylori and GERD is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of H. pylori and its eradication on reflux esophagitis therapy.

METHODSPatients diagnosed with reflux esophagitis by endoscopy were enrolled; based on rapid urease test and Warth-Starry stain, they were divided into H. pylori positive and negative groups. H. pylori positive patients were randomly given H. pylori eradication treatment for 10 days, then esomeprazole 20 mg bid for 46 days. The other patients received esomeprazole 20 mg bid therapy for 8 weeks. After treatment, three patient groups were obtained: H. pylori positive eradicated, H. pylori positive uneradicated, and H. pylori negative. Before and after therapy, reflux symptoms were scored and compared. Healing rates were compared among groups. The χ2 test and t-test were used, respectively, for enumeration and measurement data.

RESULTSThere were 176 H. pylori positive (with 92 eradication cases) and 180 negative cases. Healing rates in the H. pylori positive eradicated and H. pylori positive uneradicated groups reached 80.4% and 79.8% (P = 0.911), with reflux symptom scores of 0.22 and 0.14 (P = 0.588). Healing rates of esophagitis in the H. pylori positive uneradicated and H. pylori negative groups were, respectively, 79.8% and 82.2% (P = 0.848); reflux symptom scores were 0.14 and 0.21 (P = 0.546).

CONCLUSIONSBased on esomeprazole therapy, H. pylori infection and eradication have no significant effect on reflux esophagitis therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amoxicillin ; therapeutic use ; Esomeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinidazole ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the functional and oncological outcomes of proximal gastrectomy (PG) in comparison with total gastrectomy (TG) for upper-third early gastric cancer (EGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of upper-third EGC patients who had undergone PG (n=192) or TG (n=157) were reviewed. The PG group was further subdivided into patients who had undergone conventional open PG (cPG; n=157) or modified laparoscopy-assisted PG (mLAPG; n=35). Patients who had undergone mLAPG had a longer portion of their intra-abdominal esophagus preserved than patients who had undergone cPG. Surgical morbidity, recurrence, long-term nutritional status, and the incidence of reflux esophagitis were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative complications was significantly lower for PG than TG (16.7% vs. 31.2%), but the five-year overall survival rate was comparable between the two groups (99.3% vs. 96.3%). Postoperative levels of hemoglobin and albumin were significantly higher for patients who had undergone PG. However, the incidence of reflux esophagitis was higher for PG than for TG (37.4% vs. 3.7%; P<0.001). mLAPG was related to a lower incidence of reflux esophagitis after PG (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to TG, PG showed an advantage in terms of postoperative morbidity and nutrition, and there was a comparable prognosis between the two procedures. Preserving the intra-abdominal esophagus may lower the incidence of reflux esophagitis associated with PG.
Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Esophagus ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Medical Records ; Nutritional Status ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term surgical and long-term functional outcomes of Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 697 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for operable gastric cancer between January 2009 and December 2012. The patients were classified into three groups according to the reconstruction methods: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y. The parameters evaluated included patient and tumor characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Endoscopic findings of the remnant stomach were evaluated according to the residue, gastritis, bile (RGB) classification and the Los Angeles classification 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y were performed in 165 (23.7%), 371 (53.2%), and 161 patients (23.1%), respectively. Operation time was significantly shorter (173.4+/-44.7 minute, P<0.001) as was time to first flatus (2.8+/-0.8 days, P=0.009), time to first soft diet was significantly faster (4.3+/-1.0 days, P<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter (7.7+/-4.0 days, P=0.004) in Billroth I in comparison to the other methods. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien-Dindo grade III occurred in 61 patients (8.8%) with no statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.797). Endoscopic findings confirmed that gastric residue, gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis were significantly lower in Roux-en-Y (P<0.001) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for middle-third gastric cancer is beneficial in terms of long-term functional outcome, whereas Billroth I reconstruction for distal-third gastric cancer has a superior short-term surgical outcome and postoperative weight change.
Anastomosis, Surgical ; Bile ; Bile Reflux ; Classification ; Diet ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastric Stump ; Gastritis ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: There are two surgical procedures for proximal early gastric cancer (EGC): total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG). This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of PG with those of TG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and December 2008, 170 patients were diagnosed with proximal EGC at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, of which 64 patients underwent PG and 106 underwent TG. Clinicopathologic features, postoperative complications, blood chemistry data, changes in body weight, and oncological outcomes were analyzed and retrospectively compared between both groups. RESULTS: Tumor size was smaller and the number of retrieved lymph nodes was lower in the PG group. The postoperative complication rate was 10.9% in the TG group and 16.9% in the PG group. The incidence of Los Angeles grade C and D reflux esophagitis was significantly higher in the TG group. Hemoglobin level was higher and body weight loss was greater in the TG group at 2, 3, and 5 years postoperatively. The albumin levels at 3 and 5 years were lower in the TG group. There was no significant difference in the 5-year overall survival rates between the two groups (P=0.789). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications and oncologic outcomes were observed to be similar between the two groups. The PG group showed better laboratory data and weight loss than did the TG group. Moreover, severe reflux esophagitis occurred less frequently in the PG group than in the TG group. PG can be considered as an effective surgical treatment for proximal EGC.
Body Weight ; Chemistry ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed based on symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation but is a heterogeneous condition which can be subclassified according to endoscopy and esophageal reflux monitoring. The aim of this study was to identify differences in demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns among patients with various spectrum of GERD. METHODS: Patients having weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation were classified into four pathophysiological subgroups according to endoscopy and pH monitoring: reflux esophagitis (RE), endoscopy-negative reflux disease with pathological reflux (PR+), hypersensitive esophagus (HE), and normal acid exposure with negative symptom association (pH-). RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were enrolled. The numbers of patients in the subgroups were: RE, 39.0%; PR+, 20.0%; HE, 10.3%; and pH-, 30.8%. Grossly, reflux symptom patterns and relieving/exacerbating factors did not differ between subgroups. Prevalence of extraesophageal syndrome was higher in patients with PR+ than in other groups. Overlapping functional dyspepsia was common in all groups. The SCL-90-R depression score was higher in PR+ patients than in RE patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns cannot differentiate pH- group from GERD subtypes. Esophageal pH monitoring could be considered for the initial evaluation of GERD in the tertiary referral setting.
Adult ; Aged ; Depressive Disorder/etiology ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/*diagnosis/psychology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychophysiologic Disorders/etiology ; Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Esophageal candidiasis (EC) is the most frequent opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised host. However, we have found EC in healthy individuals through esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for EC in healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 281 patients who had been incidentally diagnosed with EC. We also conducted age and sex matched case control study to identify the risk factor for EC. RESULTS: The prevalence of EC was 0.32% (281/88125). The most common coexisting EGD finding was reflux esophagitis (49/281, 17.4%). An antifungal agent was prescribed in about half of EC, 139 cases (49.5%). Follow-up EGD was undertaken in 83 cases (29.5%) and 20 cases of candidiasis was persistently found. Case control study revealed EC were more often found in user of antibiotics (p=0.015), corticosteroids (p=0.002) and herb medication (p=0.006) as well as heavy drinking (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EC was 0.32% (281/88125) in Korea. Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids and herb as well as heavy drinking were significant risk factors for EC in healthy individuals.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Candidiasis/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Preparations/therapeutic use ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, little is known about the prevalence of GERD in dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the difference in the prevalence of GERD in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients. METHODS: From July 2010 to August 2011, peritoneal dialysis patients (n=30) and hemodialysis patients (n=38) were enrolled. The prevalences of GERD were assessed at a single center with endoscopic findings and interviews using a questionnaire. Also, risk factors of GERD were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalences of GERD in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients were 33.3% and 39.5% (p=0.748), respectively. The prevalences of erosive reflux esophagitis (ERD) in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients were 16.7% and 23.7% (p=0.477), respectively. The prevalences of nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients were 16.7% and 13.2% (p=0.685), respectively. The prevalences of GERD, ERD and NERD were higher than those of the general population. The risk factor for GERD was age in hemodialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD in dialysis patients was higher than that in the general population. However, there was no significant difference between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients.
Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/epidemiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/*epidemiology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/complications ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis/statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Renal Dialysis/statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Smoking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing in Korea. However, studies on risk factors for GERD have yielded inconsistent results. The aims of this study were to compare clinical features between symptomatic syndromes without esophageal injury (=non-erosive disease [NED]) and syndromes with esophageal injury (=erosive disease [ED]), and to determine risk factors associated ED. METHODS: A total of 450 subjects who visited gastroenterology clinics of six training hospitals in Daegu from March 2008 to April 2010 were consecutively enrolled. The subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire which inquired about gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The questionnaire also included questions about smoking, alcohol drinking, consumption of coffee, use of drugs, exercise, and other medical history. The subjects were subdivided into NED and ED groups. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects in each NED and ED group was 172 (38.2%) and 278 (61.8%). Male gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, consumption of coffee, large waist circumference, infrequent medication of antacids, aspirin and NSAIDs, infrequent and mild GERD symptoms were all significantly associated with ED on univariate analysis. Age, hiatal hernia, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, change in weight during 1 year, and number of typical GERD symptoms were not independent risk factors for ED. However, the association between ED and alcohol drinking, infrequent medication of antacids, mild typical GERD symptoms remained as strong risk factors after adjustments on multivariate logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Independent risk factors associated with ED were alcohol drinking, infrequent medication of antacids and mild typical GERD symptoms.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Antacids/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Aspirin/therapeutic use ; Barrett Esophagus/complications/diagnosis ; Body Mass Index ; Coffee ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Waist Circumference