RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical warning signs and independent predictors of survival in mediastinitis related to esophagogastric diseases and injuries. METHODS: From March 1998 to February 2009, 36 patients with a mean age of 55.7 +/- 12.3 years old, with mediastinitis due to esophagogastric diseases and injuries were treated. Signs present before diagnosis of mediastinitis were identified. Several presentation and evolutive variables were confronted with mortality and survival. RESULTS: Mortality was 41.7%. Three etiological groups were discriminated: 1) 21 postoperatives of esophagogastric surgery with 57.1% mortality, 2) 14 instrumental and foreign bodies perforations of esophagus with 14.3% mortality, 3) 1 esophageal cancer perforation with no survival. Warning signs in group 1 were: bad postoperative evolution with sepsis and no other septic focus, septic pleural effusion, neumothorax, and supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Warning signs in group 2 were: thorax pain usually retrosternal, pneumomediastinum, prevertebral cervical and subcutaneous emphysema, pleural effusion, sepsis, and odynophagia. Independent predictors of survival were: surgical procedure tactics that prioritizes debridement with mediastinal, pleural and neck drainage, esophagostomy and gastrostomy in opposition to less aggressive surgical tactics [OR 12.6 (95% CI: 1.7-66.5)], and surgery within the 24 hs of noticing the warning signs [OR 10.6 (95% CI: 1.7-96.7)]. These survival predictors were at the expense of group 1. Group 2 did not show any predictor of survival. CONCLUSIONS: In mediastinitis involving esophagogastric surgery, we recommend to apply the surgical tactics delineated previously and perform surgery within the 24 hs of noticing the warning signs. In mediastinitis involving instrumental and foreign bodies esophageal perforation, we can not recommend any particular surgical tactic.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause respiratory symptoms. These symptoms are triggered by reflux events that reach the pharynx, causing microaspiration or through vagal reflex. Respiratory symptoms can be vague and coexist with gastroesophageal reflux disease, without a real link between the two entities. To effectively treat these patients, it is important tofind an association between the two diseases. Work up should include the diagnosis of reflux disease, the diagnosis of pharyngeal reflux events--microaspiration--and, if possible, of laryngeal injury. Once the diagnosis has been established, an effective therapy must be offered to the patient. In these patients, medical treatment is less effective when compared to the results in the population with typical symptoms. This may be due to the fact that non-acid reflux episodes are causing the respiratory symptoms or as a result of an irreversible damage generated in the airway. Antireflux surgery is an effective therapy that reduces both acid and non-acid reflux events. This article describes the different diagnostic tests as well as the results obtained with surgical treatment in this population. Additionally, it describes potential applications of esophageal and pharyngeal impedance monitoring in these patients.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause respiratory symptoms. These symptoms are triggered by reflux events that reach the pharynx, causing microaspiration or through vagal reflex. Respiratory symptoms can be vague and coexist with gastroesophageal reflux disease, without a real link between the two entities. To effectively treat these patients, it is important tofind an association between the two diseases. Work up should include the diagnosis of reflux disease, the diagnosis of pharyngeal reflux events--microaspiration--and, if possible, of laryngeal injury. Once the diagnosis has been established, an effective therapy must be offered to the patient. In these patients, medical treatment is less effective when compared to the results in the population with typical symptoms. This may be due to the fact that non-acid reflux episodes are causing the respiratory symptoms or as a result of an irreversible damage generated in the airway. Antireflux surgery is an effective therapy that reduces both acid and non-acid reflux events. This article describes the different diagnostic tests as well as the results obtained with surgical treatment in this population. Additionally, it describes potential applications of esophageal and pharyngeal impedance monitoring in these patients.