Esophageal wall defects of different etiology in the upper gastrointestinal tract can be treated successfully with EVT, considering that indication for EVT should be weighed carefully. EVT can be regarded as a novel life-saving therapeutic tool.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy might be more effective than endoscopic stent placement in the management of esophageal anastomotic leaks.

No abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of postoperative immobilization as opposed to mobilization on the biomechanical attributes of healing Achilles tendons in a new experimental mouse model. Postoperative mobilization resulted in a continuous and significantly more rapid restoration of load to failure in comparison to the immobilization group. Tendon deflection was decreased by postoperative mobilization, whereas under immobilization it paradoxically increased still further in the later course. After 112 days the tendons of the mobilization group had regained their original tendon stiffness, whereas the tendons after immobilization reached only about half the values seen in the control tendons. Histologically, postoperative mobilization led to increased immigration of inflammatory cells in the early phase. In the late phase, as compared to immobilization, tendon structure was more mature, with fibre bundles arranged in parallel and interposed tendocytes.Tensile loading of the healing tendon by postoperative mobilization leads to fundamental changes in the biological process of tendon healing resulting in accelerated restoration of load to failure and reduced tendon deflection.

Pyloric drainage after esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction should be omitted because it does not improve gastric emptying and may favour biliary reflux esophagitis.