Outcomes after esophageal discontinuity: a population-based analysis of reversal rates and outcomes

Summary

Project ID: 2022-1028/ TRIM 2025 0970 402 000

Project title: Outcomes after esophageal discontinuity: a population-based analysis of reversal rates and outcomes

Principle Investigator: Elliot Wakeam

Description: The need to establish esophageal discontinuity usually arises out of complications of esophageal resection and reconstruction in course of the treatment of cancers of the esophagus and stomach, repair of hiatal hernias, or esophageal perforations. Regardless of etiology, it is usually a ‘damage control’ approach to severe mediastinitis and sepsis that results from the initial perforation or dehiscence. It can also be part of an approach to the remedy of certain congenital malformations as well. In any case, the outcomes for this group of patients, whether they undergo the procedure as damage control or as a planned operation, are as unknown, as is the prevalence. The reversal rates, and long-term survival outcomes, for cancer-related and non-cancer related indications is likewise unknown. Hence the goal of the study is to characterize the prevalence of these patients in the population and to characterize their outcomes in terms of survival, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. Importantly, the project team seeks out to characterize reversal rates and additional subsequent procedures performed using an Ontario wide population-based data set. The goal of this long term work, is to inform the potential recipient population for the development of esophageal transplantation as a treatment for “foregut failure”.

PIA approved: September 24, 2024

Project status: In progress