ObjectiveTo explore clinical outcomes of complete mechanical cervical side-to-side esophago-gastric tube anastomosis. MethodsClinical data of 60 patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC)who underwent complete mechanical cervical side-to-side esophago-gastric tube anastomosis in the 153rd Central Hospital of People's Liberation Army from June 2010 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 male and 19 female patients with their age of 46-78 (64.2±6.4)years and body weight of 58.6±12.6 kg. There were 39 patients with mid-thoracic EC, 15 patients with lower-thoracic EC, and 6 patients with upper-thoracic EC. There was 1 patient with stageⅠ EC, 32 patients with stage Ⅱ EC, 23 patients with stage Ⅲ EC, and 4 patients with stage Ⅳ EC. Six to 12 months after the operation, all the patients received a survey questionnaire regarding their quantity and quality of food intake as well as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Fifty-two patients received barium swallow, and 38 patients received gastroscopy and esophageal mucosal biopsy during follow-up. ResultsAll the 60 patients were successfully discharged. Average length of hospital stay was 12.0±2.6 days. Average time for anastomosis was 18.4±3.2 minutes. The incidence of anastomotic leak was 1.7% (1/60). During follow-up, all the 60 patients restored normal food intake, and 14 patients (23.3%)had GER symptoms. Barium swallow showed the average anastomotic diameter of 1.6±0.2 cm (range, 1.2 to 2.2 cm). In 45° trendelenburg position, 31 patients (59.6%)had barium GER, but none of the patients had prolonged barium retention, intrathoracic gastric dilation or disturbed gastric emptying. Gastroscopy of 38 patients showed full anastomotic opening in 24 patients (63.2%)and irregular or semiclosed anastomosis in the other 14 patients (36.8%). Mucosal biopsy under gastroscopy showed chronic inflammation in 18.4% (7/38)patients. ConclusionComplete mechanical cervical side-to-side esophago-gastric tube anastomosis can significantly prevent anastomotic stenosis, leak and intrathoracic stomach symptoms with good clinical outcomes.
ObjectiveTo summarize our experience of right axillary straight mini-thoracotomy for surgical treatment of common congenital heart diseases in infants. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 369 infants undergoing open heart surgery through right axillary straight mini-thoracotomy in the 153th Central Hospital of People's Liberation Army from April 2009 to April 2013. There were 191 males and 178 females with their mean age of 8.2±3.1 months (range, 3-12 months)and body weight of 7.8±4.5 kg (rang, 4.5-11.2 kg). Surgical procedures included ventricular septal defect (VSD)repair in 290 patients, atrial septal defect (ASD)repair in 16 patients, VSD and ASD repair in 34 patients, VSD repair and mitral valvuloplasty in 4 patients, valvotomy for pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS)in 9 patients, ASD repair and valvotomy for PVS in 6 patients, correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in 4 patients, and correction of partial atrioventricular canal defect in 6 patients. ResultsSix patients (1.6%)died postoperatively. Postoperative complications included right atelectasis in 3 patients, right pneumothorax in 2 patients, pneumonia in 16 patients, incision fat liquefaction in 12 patients, third-degree atrioventricular block in 1 patient, cerebral air embolism in 1 patient, and reexploration for bleeding in 3 patients. A total of 295 patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months after discharge. Residual VSD shunt was found in 4 patients, and mild mitral regurgitation was found in 2 patients. ConclusionClinical outcomes of right axillary straight mini-thoracotomy during open heart surgery are satisfactory for infants with common congenital heart diseases, but strict indications and skillful surgical techniques are needed.