The current issue of Endoscopy International Open includes a pilot study regarding
the use of polyglycolic acid sheets to treat esophageal leaks. We would like to congratulate
the team for the paper, as an optimal treatment for anastomotic esophageal leak still
needs to be developed and further research on treatment choices is necessary. However,
attention must be brought to the fact that the studies must present reproducibility
in other to add valuable and trustable information to the literature.
Esophageal anastomotic fistula presents a challenging condition in postoperative patients
and may lead to prolonged hospital admissions, along with high morbidity and mortality
1
. A conservative approach is sometimes insufficient and surgery may be hindered due
to tissue fibrosis and local inflammation. Use of endoscopy in this scenario is being
explored, as an alternative to lessen hospital stay, medical expenditure, days of
limited oral intake and postoperative complications, particularly in patients with
fistulas larger than 5 mm
2
. Many endoscopic approaches are emerging, but there is still a lack of consistency
in the literature about which is the best, meaning that none has achieved clearly
superior results regarding leak resolution and complications.
For refractory postoperative esophageal leaks, the treatment rationale must include
rigorous evaluation of local features such as tissue viability (presence of infection,
ischemia, necrosis and fibrosis); recognition of leakage maintaining factors (stenosis,
presence of suture threads and drain tubes), and esophageal axis disturbances.
Evaluation of clinical presentation and hemodynamic stability is fundamental to define
treatment options. In unstable patients with abscesses, the priority should be draining
collections either through endoscopic therapy employing negative vacuum pressure systems
or plastic pig tail stent placement, or by interventional radiology-guided percutaneous
drainage or surgery.
In patients who present with stable clinical conditions, an endoscopic approach to
refractory esophageal leaks should be preferable. Evaluation of the anastomosis site
is fundamental as the presence of tissue necrosis, complete anastomosis dehiscence,
and fistula diameter larger than 10 mm may harm endoscopic treatment results.
We consider it of great importance to maintain a pervious lumen to allow adequate
outflow of fluids to the digestive tract. Achievement of an appropriate caliber in
stenosis along with esophageal axis correction through early Savary Gilliard dilation
has a major role in leakage resolution
3
. Since 1990, our endoscopy unit has used this approach and obtained excellent results.
Hemodynamically stable patients who present with no abscess and have viable anastomotic
tissue can benefit from fully-covered self-expanding metal stents (FSEMS) as the preferred
treatment choice. In endoscopic evaluation, attention also should be paid to the distance
from the anastomosis to the cricopharyngeal. Especially in post-esophagectomy reconstructions,
it may be short, leading to the need to employ modified esophageal metal stents to
minimize discomfort due to foreign body sensation and prevent stent migration
4
.
Placement of FSEMS is described as an approach to esophageal anastomotic leakage,
presenting favorable results in leak resolution (with evidence of clinical success
rates of 75 % to 85 %) and overall is well tolerated by patients. However, this procedure
is not absent complications, and stent migration, tissue integration, and occurrence
of esophago-tracheal and aorto-esophageal fistula are described as related to esophageal
metal stent placement
5
.
More recently, endoscopic vacuum therapy has entered the spotlight for management
of gastrointestinal leaks, presenting some promising results by applying continuous
negative pressure, therefore reducing local contamination and promoting granulation
tissue growth
6
. Vacuum system placement is described either in an abscess cavity or within the esophageal
lumen. The vacuum approach has the downside of requiring multiple endoscopies as well
as the need to keep the patient in hospital for the length of the treatment. A technical
variation of vacuum therapy is possible though two to three vacuum placements followed
by plastic pig tail drainage, aiming to allow early oral intake and to reduce hospital
stay. The leak resolution rate employing this modality of treatment is 90 % to 95 %.
Standard endoscopic clips, although mainly used for acute perforations, are also reported
as treatment to esophageal leaks
7
. Moreover, placement of full-thickness over-the-scope clips has also been described
in management of gastrointestinal leaks
8
, although they may be difficult to use due to lack of adequate room for deployment.
Use of tissue adhesives in anastomotic leakage is also discussed in the literature
9
10
11
, sometimes associated with other treatment methods such as APC and fibrin glue and
could be a promising therapeutic option in these patients.
In the pilot study using polyglycolic described in this issue, acid sheets were used
no complications were reported as the primary evaluated endpoint. We must emphasize
that use of this material is indicated in the absence of infection and protein lysis,
upstream stenosis or high-grade esophageal axis deviation as elevated intraluminal
pressure acts as fistula maintenance factor.
Other approaches are also described, such as use of endoscopic insertion of Vicryl
plug along with fibrin glue
12
, solo injection of cyanoacrylate
13
, overstitch closure of esophagus leaks combined with vacuum therapy
14
, bronchoscopic closure of tracheoesophageal fistulas
15
and placement of cardiac septal occluder (CSDO) in esophagotracheal fistula closure
16
.
In our experience, the technical success rate with CSDO placement was 97 % and the
original delivery system, with 80-cm length, was a limiting factor, requiring deployment
of alternative techniques. In acute esophageal leaks, the clinical success rate was
50 %
17
18
.
To this date there is still no technique of choice in endoscopic management of refractory
esophageal leaks, and many different alternatives currently are being employed. This
may reflect the lack of consistent results in the literature for one technique over
the others, as well as complications attributed to each of the treatment methods.
To date, much of the decision-making regarding the treatment approach relies on individual
case evaluation as well as the team’s expertise.