Endoscopy 2019; 51(01): E5-E6
DOI: 10.1055/a-0751-2540
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Thoracoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (TECS): a novel less invasive technique for resection of gastric tube cancer after esophagectomy

Yoshiki Tsujii
1   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Makoto Yamasaki
2   Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Yoshito Hayashi
1   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Koji Tanaka
2   Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Tomoki Makino
2   Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Yuichiro Doki
2   Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
,
Tetsuo Takehara
1   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 November 2018 (online)

With recent improvements in the survival of patients after esophagectomy, the occurrence of secondary malignancies arising in the gastric tube has been increasing [1] [2]. However, resection of the reconstructed gastric tube with lymphadenectomy for gastric tube cancer (GTC) is an invasive procedure associated with high morbidity and mortality [3]. Local resection without lymphadenectomy may be reasonable in high risk patients. We have developed a novel thoracoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (TECS) technique as a minimally invasive alternative.

Two patients underwent TECS for GTC after esophagectomy. Patient #1 had a 25 mm, undifferentiated, submucosal invasive adenocarcinoma ([Fig. 1], [Fig. 2]), which was considered difficult to resect completely by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Patient #2 had undergone ESD for a 10 mm depressed GTC ([Fig. 3]); however, histopathological analysis revealed noncurative resection because of submucosal invasion to 1150 μm, with a positive vertical margin.

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Fig. 1 Endoscopic view of a depressed lesion (arrows) with an irregular surface observed in Patient #1.
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Fig. 2 Endoscopic ultrasonographic image of a low-echoic tumor with deep invasion of the submucosal layer (arrows).
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Fig. 3 Endoscopic view of a slightly depressed lesion (arrows) observed in Patient #2.

The absence of metastasis was confirmed preoperatively using computed tomography. The TECS steps ([Video 1]) were: 1) exposure of the gastric tube by thoracoscopy; 2) mucosal incision around the involved site and submucosal trimming using ESD technique, followed by full-thickness incision by endoscopy (ITknife 2; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan); 3) thoracoscopic resection with Harmonic scalpel (Ethicon, Somerville, New Jersey, USA); 4) suturing.

Video 1 Thoracoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery procedure in Patient #2 with gastric tube cancer after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection.


Quality:

Both TECS procedures were performed under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation and were successfully completed in 250 and 420 minutes, respectively. Blood loss was minimal. No perioperative complications such as anastomotic leaks, bleeding, or stricture were observed. Oral intake was started on postoperative days 7 and 8. The patients were discharged 14 and 25 days after the procedure.

ESD for GTC is sometimes technically difficult with fibrosis [4], and the long-term outcomes for noncurative patients are reportedly less satisfactory [5]. Although careful follow-up for possible metastasis is necessary in our patients, TECS was a feasible, safer, and less invasive therapeutic option for patients with noncurative GTC.

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