High-resolution manometry (HRM) is a diagnostic tool for surgeons, gastroenterologists and other healthcare professionals to evaluate esophageal physiology. The Chicago Classification (CC) system is based on a consensus of worldwide experts to minimize ambiguity in HRM data acquisition and diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders. The most updated version, CCv4.0, was published in 2021; however, it does not provide step-by-step guidelines (i.e., for beginners) on how to assess the most important HRM metrics. This paper aims to summarize the basic guidelines for conducting a high-quality HRM study including data acquisition and interpretation, based on CCv4.0, using Manoview ESO analysis software, version 3.3 (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN).

OBJECTIVE: To review and describe the most characteristic radiological findings of the most frequent esophageal tumor lesions, with emphasis on the esophago-gastric distention technique pneumo-computed tomography performed in our institution. To know the main advantage of this distension technique.
CONCLUSIONS: Malignant tumor lesions (predominantly squamous cell carcinoma in the mid esophagus and adenocarcinoma in the distal esophagus) present as asymmetric wall thickening, mucosal irregularity, or mass extending into adjacent organs with lymph node involvement. Benign tumors (mainly leiomyoma being the most frequent and others such as lipoma) present as endoluminal growth, with defined borders and homogeneous attenuation. Post-contrast enhancement is scarce or moderate. The technique of computed tomography pneumotomography technique achieves an additional distension of the esophageal lumen in all cases. It allows delimiting the superior and inferior borders of the lesions, helping the surgeon to define the therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVE: Absent contractility is considered a disorder of peristalsis. The literature about the etiology and clinical characteristics is scarce and the evidence on systemic diseases associated with this esophageal disorder is limited. Therefore, we aimed to determine the etiology of absent contractility in our population using the clinical algorithm recently described in the literature.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study at a single tertiary hospital of all patients diagnosed of absent contractility between May 2018 and February 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, medication, comorbidities, and laboratory and paraclinical tests were recorded from clinical records.
RESULTS: A total of 72 patients with absent contractility were included for analysis. There was a predominance of female sex (n=43, 59.7%), with a mean age of 55.4 (±15.0) years. We identified a systemic disorder associated with absent contractility in 64 (88.9%) patients. From these, 31 (43.1%) patients were diagnosed with a systemic autoimmune disease, 26 (36.1%) patients were considered to have absent contractility secondary to pathological exposure to acid-reflux and 15 (20.8%) patients were diagnosed with other non-autoimmune systemic disorders. In the remaining eight (11.1%) patients, there were no underlying systemic disorders that could justify the diagnosis of absent contractility.
CONCLUSIONS: A systematic approach to search for an underlying cause in patients diagnosed with absent contractility is warranted. Up to 90% of patients with absent contractility have a systemic disorder associated with this condition.

UNASSIGNED: Los quistes broncogénicos esofágicos son sacos cerrados originados de brotes anormales del tubo -traqueobronquial primitivo. Estas lesiones suelen ser asintomáticas, por lo que pueden hallarse incidentalmente o pueden causar síntomas por compresión de estructuras adyacentes. Son lesiones muy poco comunes; se han publicado unos 23 casos en adultos.
UNASSIGNED: Presentamos el caso de un varón de 44 años con un cuadro de tos de larga duración, sin otro síntoma. Para descartar las causas más comunes de sus síntomas se realizan estudios que objetivan la presencia de una lesión intramural de 40 × 43 mm. Se realiza videotoracoscopia para su resección y estudio, resultando ser un quiste broncogénico.
UNASSIGNED: Bronchogenic cysts are close sacks originated from abnormal development of the tracheobronchial tree. These lesions are usually asymptomatic or can cause symptoms, by compression of adjacent structures. This pathology is so unusual that there are only about 23 cases published in adults.
UNASSIGNED: We report a case of a 44 year-old man with persistent cough, without other symptom. The most common causes for his symptoms were ruled out, so imaging studies were made, showing at the medial portion of the esophagus, located intramural a 40 × 43 mm ovoid lesion. Resected by video-assisted thoracoscopy for its study. With findings attributable to bronchogenic cyst.

OBJECTIVE: Jackhammer esophagus is a recently identified motility disorder. Experience with the novel pathologic condition has been reported in different studies but there is little information on the subject in Latin America. Our case series conducted in Bogota, Colombia, describes the prevalence of jackhammer esophagus and its demographic, clinical, and manometric characteristics.
METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study included consecutive patients diagnosed with jackhammer esophagus that were referred for high-resolution esophageal manometry. Their clinical and manometric records were reviewed, and the pertinent information for the present study was collected.
RESULTS: Within the study period, 6,445 patients were evaluated with esophageal manometry, 27 of whom were diagnosed with jackhammer esophagus (prevalence of 0.42%). The majority of those patients were women (n=17, 63%) in the sixth decade of life. The most common symptom was regurgitation (n=17, 63%), followed by dysphagia (n=15, 56%). The mean distal contractile integral was 9,384 (5,095-18,546) mmHg·s·cm. Dysphagia was more common in patients >60 years of age (79%, p <.01) and regurgitation was more frequent in patients <60 years of age (92%, p <.03).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to characterize the prevalence of jackhammer esophagus and its demographic, clinical, and manometric characteristics in Latin American patients. The prevalence of jackhammer esophagus in our study population was considerably lower than that reported in international case series. Our findings suggest that there are important geographic differences in the epidemiology and clinical presentation of jackhammer esophagus, compared with data from other international centers.

UNASSIGNED: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. A rare site of localization of these tumors is the esophagus. Evidence-based consensus regarding the type of surgery for patients with esophageal GIST remains unclear.
UNASSIGNED: A female without history of diseases experienced dysphagia, weight loss (6 kg) and malaise. Computed tomography revealed thickening of the esophagus. During the endoscopic ultrasonography a localized lesion was observed in the esophagus that depended on the muscularis propria. We opted to treat with an esophagectomy with replacement by transmediastinal transposition of the stomach. Patient recovered well from the surgery and she was discharged home in stable condition in post-operative day seven. At 6 months she has no symptoms.
UNASSIGNED: This case illustrates the clinical presentation of an esophageal GIST which represents only 1% of all sites where GISTs have been reported; open surgery was successfully performed with minimal morbidity, complete resolution of symptoms and improvement of the patient\'s quality of life. Esophagectomy with replacement by transmediastinal transposition of the stomach should be performed when the center has experience to do so with minimal morbidity and mortality.
UNASSIGNED: Los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) son las lesiones malignas mesenquimales más comunes del tracto digestivo. Un sitio raro de localización de estos tumores es el esófago. A la fecha actual no hay un consenso claro basado en evidencia científica con respecto al tipo de cirugía a realizar en pacientes con GIST en esta localización inusual.
UNASSIGNED: Una mujer previamente sana presentó disfagia, pérdida de peso (6 kg) y malestar general. La tomografía computarizada reveló un engrosamiento del esófago y en la ultrasonografía endoscópica se observó una lesión localizada en el esófago dependiente de la muscular propia. Se optó por realizar esofagectomía con reemplazo mediante transposición transmediastinal del estómago. La paciente se recuperó bien de la cirugía y fue dada de alta en condición estable en el séptimo día del posoperatorio. A los 6 meses, se encuentra asintomática.
UNASSIGNED: Este caso ilustra la presentación clínica de un GIST esofágico que representa solo el 1% de todos los sitios reportados. La cirugía se realizó con éxito, con morbilidad mínima, resolución completa de los síntomas y mejoría de la calidad de vida de la paciente. La esofagectomía con reemplazo mediante transposición transmediastinal del estómago (comúnmente llamado ascenso gástrico) debe realizarse cuando el centro tiene experiencia para hacerlo con morbilidad y mortalidad mínimas.

There is significant controversy in the management of cardiac cancer. It seems unanimous that Siewert type I tumors be operated on as cancer of the esophagus and Siewert type III as gastric cancer. However, for \"true\" cancer of the gastric cardia or Siewert II, the authors do not agree. There is the obvious need for free proximal and distal margins, as well as correct lymphadenectomy. For some, esophagectomy is necessary to perform correct radical oncological surgery, but other authors defend that an abdominal approach is sufficient to perform total gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy. Recent and older papers published do not clarify this issue, and their results are contradictory. Chemotherapy prior to surgery can reduce the size of the tumor and the presence of lymphadenopathies.

UNASSIGNED: Bronchogenic cysts result from abnormal budding of the primitive tracheobronchial tube and are rare congenital cystic lesions. The location of the cyst depends on the embryological stage of abnormal budding. Although periesophageal bronchogenic cysts have been frequently reported, a completely intramural cyst is very rare.
UNASSIGNED: A 42-year-old female patient, a three-month course with retrosternal pain associated with food intake, accompanied by intermittent dysphagia to solids. Esophagogram, high resolution thoracic tomography and endoscopic ultrasound are performed, concluding a probable esophageal bronchogenic cyst. Resection is performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery, without complications. Patient presents with adequate evolution and complete remission of the symptomatology.
UNASSIGNED: Bronchogenic cysts of the esophageal wall are extremely uncommon lesions. Its surgical treatment is indicated to be symptomatic; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection is of choice, with excellent long-term results and minimal morbidity.
UNASSIGNED: Los quistes broncogénicos son lesiones congénitas raras que resultan de brotes anormales del tubo traqueobronquial primitivo. La localización del quiste depende de la etapa embriológica del brote anormal. Aunque los quistes broncogénicos periesofágicos han sido frecuentemente reportados, un quiste completamente intramural es muy raro.
UNASSIGNED: Mujer de 42 años con cuadro de 3 meses de evolución, con dolor retroesternal asociado a la ingestión de alimentos, acompañado de disfagia intermitente a sólidos. Se realiza esofagograma, tomografía de tórax de alta resolución y ultrasonido endoscópico, que concluyen probable quiste broncogénico esofágico. Se realiza resección por cirugía torácica videoasistida, sin complicaciones. La paciente cursa con adecuada evolución y remisión completa de la sintomatología.
UNASSIGNED: Los quistes broncogénicos de la pared esofágica son lesiones extremadamente poco comunes. Está indicado su tratamiento quirúrgico al ser sintomáticos; es de elección la resección por cirugía torácica videoasistida, con excelentes resultados a largo plazo y mínima morbilidad.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant dysphagia is difficulty swallowing resulting from esophageal obstruction due to cancer. The goal of palliative treatment is to reduce the dysphagia and improve oral dietary intake. Self-expandable metallic stents are the current treatment of choice, given that they enable the immediate restoration of oral intake. The aim of the present study was to describe the results of using totally covered and partially covered esophageal stents for palliating esophageal cancer.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with inoperable esophageal cancer treated with self-expandable metallic stents. The 2 groups formed were: group A, which consisted of patients with a fully covered self-expandable stent (SX-ELLA®), and group B, which was made up of patients with a partially covered self-expandable stent (Ultraflex®).
RESULTS: Of the 69-patient total, 50 were included in the study. Group A had 19 men and 2 women and their mean age was 63.6 years (range 41-84). Technical success was achieved in 100% (n=21) of the cases and clinical success in 90.4% (n=19). Group B had 24 men and 5 women and their mean age was 67.5 years (range 43-92). Technical success was achieved in 100% (n=29) of the cases and clinical success in 89.6% (n=26). Complications were similar in both groups (33.3 vs. 51.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between the 2 types of stent for the palliative treatment of esophageal cancer with respect to technical success, clinical success, or complications.

BACKGROUND: One of the most severe complications after esophaguectomy is anastomotic dehiscence. The use of collagen sponges could be an effective way to resolve this complication. Our objective was to perform an experimental model of esophageal anastomosis in rats to study these mechanisms.
METHODS: A total of 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were used divided into 2 groups, Tachosil® group (n=25) and control group (n=25). After the section of the abdominal esophagus a single-layer esophago-gastric anastomosis was performed reinforced with 1cm of Tachosil® wrapping the anastomosis in group 1. A functional study was performed using manometry as well as histopathological and immunohistochemical studies for angiogenic, fibrogenic and growth factors.
RESULTS: The mortality in our series was 8% in the collagen dressing group, compared to 36% in the control group. When esophageal manometry was performed, the dehiscence pressure was higher in the reinforced anastomosis, On microscopical analysis, in the collagen dressing group a profuse inflammatory reaction with abundant neutrophils and macrophages surrounded by a connective matrix with fibroblasts and blood vessels was observed, The expression of VEGF, FGF1 and FGF2 was noticeably higher in the collagen dressing group.
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the application of collagen dressing facilitates tissue reparation phenomena, and therefore could be very useful as a reinforcement of esophago-gastric anastomosis to prevent dehiscence.