Minimal access surgery of corrosive and thermal strictures of the foregut

Abstract

Background and Aim: Conventional surgery for caustic/thermal strictures (CS/TS) entails considerable trauma, which may be mitigated by minimal access surgery (MAS). Experience with its use in CS/TS is both heterogeneous and limited, hence, warrants a comprehensive review. Methods: Medical literature/indexing databases were systematically searched for pertinent articles published in English, from 1990 to 2021, and analysed. Results: Fifty relevant articles, pertaining to over 200 patients, were found. They showed that MAS is feasible in CS/TS management. It reduces the access damage in chest and abdomen whilst facilitating resection or bypass of the affected gut segment through different combination of operations, sequence of steps, conduits and routes. The procedures range from completely minimal access to hybrid ones, with reduced complications and faster recovery. Hybrid procedures prove as expeditious as open ones. Conclusions: MAS proves efficacious in restoring alimentary continuity in corrosive/thermal strictures of the foregut.