Hiatal Hernia After Open versus Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hiatal hernia (HH) is an infrequent yet potentially life-threatening complication after esophagectomy. Several studies have reported the incidence of this complication after both open and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). This meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled incidence of HH after both types of esophagectomy and, importantly, to provide insight in the outcome of subsequent HH repair. A systematic search was performed of the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Article selection was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria. Articles describing the incidence of HH after different open and minimally invasive techniques were included. Only when five or more comparable studies reported on the same outcome were data pooled. The incidence of postoperative HH and the outcome of HH repair were analyzed. Twenty-six studies published between 1985 and 2015 were included, describing a total of 6058 patients who underwent esophagectomy, of whom 240 were diagnosed with a postoperative HH. The pooled incidence of symptomatic HH after MIE was 4.5 %, compared to a pooled incidence of 1.0 % after open esophagectomy. 11 studies reported on the outcome of HH repair in 125 patients. A pooled morbidity rate after HH repair of 25 % was found. During follow-up, a pooled recurrence rate of 14 % was reported in 11 of the included studies. The pooled incidence of HH after MIE is higher compared to open esophagectomy. Most importantly, surgical repair of these HHs is associated with a high morbidity rate. Both radiologists and surgeons should be aware of this rare yet potentially life-threatening complication.