title: Hiatal Hernia After Esophagectomy for Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hiatal hernia (HH) after esophagectomy is becoming more relevant due to improvements in survival. This study evaluated and compared the occurrence and clinical course of HH after open and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospectively recorded characteristics of patients treated with esophagectomy for cancer at 2 tertiary referral centers in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. Computed tomography reports were reviewed to identify HH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 657 patients, MIE was performed in 432 patients (66%) and open esophagectomy in 225 (34%). A computed tomography scan was performed in 488 patients (74%). HH was diagnosed in 45 patients after a median of 20 months (range, 0 to 101 months). The development of HH after MIE was comparable to the open approach (8% vs 5%, p = 0.267). At the time of diagnosis, 14 patients presented as a surgical emergency. Of the remaining 31 patients, 17 were symptomatic and 14 were asymptomatic. An elective operation was performed in 10 symptomatic patients, and all others were treated conservatively. During conservative treatment, 2 patients presented as a surgical emergency. An emergency operation resulted in a prolonged intensive care unit stay compared with an elective procedure (3 vs 0 days, p < 0.001). In-hospital deaths were solely seen after emergency operations (19%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HH is a significant long-term complication after esophagectomy, occurring in a substantial proportion of the patients. The occurrence of HH after MIE and open esophagectomy is comparable. Emergency operation is associated with dismal outcomes and should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hylke J F
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Brenkman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fergus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Hillegersberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharland
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goense
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.p.ruurda@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Jelle P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ruurda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed