Endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure therapy for the treatment of esophageal leak: A case series report
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Abstract
This retrospective case series aimed to evaluate the safety and preliminary outcomes of endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) in the management of esophageal leaks. A total of 11 patients with esophageal leaks were treated using EVAC at Hanoi Medical University Hospital between August 2023 and March 2026. The median age was 61 years old (IQR: 40 – 67.5), with a male-to-female ratio of 8:3. Anastomotic leaks accounted for 36.4%, post-interventional leaks for 45.4%, and spontaneous perforations for 18.2%. The median time from surgery to diagnosis of the leak was 7 days, and from diagnosis to EVAC placement was also 7 days. The median duration of EVAC therapy was 17 days, with a median of 2 sponge exchanges. The complete closure rate was 72.7%. The median length of hospital stay was 27 days (range: 20 – 88 days). In conclusion, we suggest that EVAC is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective modality for the management of esophageal leaks.
Article Details
Keywords
Esophageal leak, endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure, EVAC
References
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