Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that anastomotic leakages and perforations of the upper gastrointestinal tract (uGIT) can be treated successfully with endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT). So far, no data is available regarding the long-term quality of life (QoL) after successful EVT of defects in the uGIT.
Methods: We present a prospective survey on long-term Qol of 52 patients treated by EVT for defects of the uGIT. Results are compared with 63 of 221 patients treated by esophagectomy without anastomotic insufficiency (w/o EVT) between 12/2011 and 12/2015. The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life-Index (GIQLI) score was determined by a 36-item questionnaire of 25 respondents with EVT and 50 respondents w/o EVT.
Results: The response rate was 78.95% (75/95) including 25 survey respondents who were treated with EVT for anastomotic insufficiency secondary to esophagectomy or gastrectomy (n = 19), iatrogenic esophageal perforation (n = 4), and Boerhaave syndrome (n = 2) and 50 respondents with complication-free esophagectomy w/o EVT. The median follow-up was 19 months for EVT patients and 21 months for patients w/o EVT. Except for "social function" (p = 0.009) in favor for patients w/o EVT, the median GIQLI score did not differ significantly between both study groups concerning the categories 'symptoms', 'emotions', 'physical functions', and 'medical treatment' resulting in a total median GIQLI score of 83 in EVT versus 96.5 in patients w/o EVT (p = 0.185). Spearman Rho analysis revealed that a high GIQLI score correlated with a low ASA score (p < 0.001), a benign pathology (p = 0.001), and a hospital stay less than 21 days (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: EVT in the uGIT is well tolerated by the patients and accompanied by a satisfactory long-term QoL.
Keywords: Anastomotic leakage; Negative-pressure wound therapy; Quality of life; Upper gastrointestinal tract.