Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Oesophagectomy is an established technique for treating oesophageal cancer. Pulmonary complications during the postoperative period can arise from intraoperative manipulation, thoracic structure injury, or anastomotic leaks. At our institution, it is standard practice to place a soft corrugated dr...

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Main Authors: Varun Kumar Agarwal, Amiy Arnav, Rohit Sharma, Ramakrishnan Shankaran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18439/64776_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC(KK_AKD)_PF1(AG_KM)_PFA(OM)_PB(AG_OM)_PN(KM).pdf
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author Varun Kumar Agarwal
Amiy Arnav
Rohit Sharma
Ramakrishnan Shankaran
author_facet Varun Kumar Agarwal
Amiy Arnav
Rohit Sharma
Ramakrishnan Shankaran
author_sort Varun Kumar Agarwal
collection DOAJ
description Oesophagectomy is an established technique for treating oesophageal cancer. Pulmonary complications during the postoperative period can arise from intraoperative manipulation, thoracic structure injury, or anastomotic leaks. At our institution, it is standard practice to place a soft corrugated drain around the anastomosis in the neck to facilitate the drainage of any anastomotic leakage towards the skin. In this case report, a 55-year-old female underwent video-assisted oesophagectomy in the prone position after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. A corrugated drain was subsequently placed near the anastomosis site in the neck. On the third day postoperatively (POD 3), she developed a sudden pneumothorax and an air leak in the chest tube. Despite the placement of a second intercostal tube and normal findings on fibreoptic bronchoscopy, the air leak persisted. Unexpectedly, the air leak spontaneously ceased, and the lungs re-inflated after 24 hours. Upon analysis, it was discovered that the dressing over the neck drain, which had been changed on POD 3, did not completely cover the wound. This, combined with malpositioning, created a oneway valve effect, leading to pneumothorax. Therefore, the use of a corrugated neck drain following oesophagectomy may result in life-threatening pneumothorax and should either be airtight sealed with dressing or avoided.
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spelling doaj.art-6692b018078c4e0398818f3882b394c42023-10-04T10:05:55ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2023-09-011709010210.7860/JCDR/2023/64776.18439Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of LiteratureVarun Kumar Agarwal0Amiy Arnav1Rohit Sharma2Ramakrishnan Shankaran3Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, SNMC, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, INHS Kalyani, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, INHS Asvini, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.Oesophagectomy is an established technique for treating oesophageal cancer. Pulmonary complications during the postoperative period can arise from intraoperative manipulation, thoracic structure injury, or anastomotic leaks. At our institution, it is standard practice to place a soft corrugated drain around the anastomosis in the neck to facilitate the drainage of any anastomotic leakage towards the skin. In this case report, a 55-year-old female underwent video-assisted oesophagectomy in the prone position after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. A corrugated drain was subsequently placed near the anastomosis site in the neck. On the third day postoperatively (POD 3), she developed a sudden pneumothorax and an air leak in the chest tube. Despite the placement of a second intercostal tube and normal findings on fibreoptic bronchoscopy, the air leak persisted. Unexpectedly, the air leak spontaneously ceased, and the lungs re-inflated after 24 hours. Upon analysis, it was discovered that the dressing over the neck drain, which had been changed on POD 3, did not completely cover the wound. This, combined with malpositioning, created a oneway valve effect, leading to pneumothorax. Therefore, the use of a corrugated neck drain following oesophagectomy may result in life-threatening pneumothorax and should either be airtight sealed with dressing or avoided. https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18439/64776_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC(KK_AKD)_PF1(AG_KM)_PFA(OM)_PB(AG_OM)_PN(KM).pdfcorrugated drainpneumothoraxpostoperative complicationsurgical procedure
spellingShingle Varun Kumar Agarwal
Amiy Arnav
Rohit Sharma
Ramakrishnan Shankaran
Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
corrugated drain
pneumothorax
postoperative complication
surgical procedure
title Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_full Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_fullStr Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_full_unstemmed Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_short Air Leak Conundrum following Oesophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_sort air leak conundrum following oesophagectomy a case report and review of literature
topic corrugated drain
pneumothorax
postoperative complication
surgical procedure
url https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18439/64776_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC(KK_AKD)_PF1(AG_KM)_PFA(OM)_PB(AG_OM)_PN(KM).pdf
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AT rohitsharma airleakconundrumfollowingoesophagectomyacasereportandreviewofliterature
AT ramakrishnanshankaran airleakconundrumfollowingoesophagectomyacasereportandreviewofliterature