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Published on: June 28, 2018
Pneumonia after esophagectomy: a systematic review on definition heterogeneity
J G A Grootenhuis1, T E Aarts1, B R Klarenbeek1
1Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Summary
Postoperative pneumonia definitions after esophagectomy lack standardization, hindering research comparability. The ECCG definition is recommended for consistent adoption to improve outcome reporting and research quality.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Surgical outcomes
- Respiratory medicine
Background:
- Postoperative pneumonia incidence after esophagectomy varies due to inconsistent definitions.
- Standardized definitions exist but their implementation in research is unclear.
- This review addresses definition heterogeneity to improve outcome reporting.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess how postoperative pneumonia is defined in esophagectomy research.
- Evaluate the implementation of proposed definitions.
- Identify key diagnostic components for improved standardization.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of medical databases (2000-2024).
- Extraction and categorization of pneumonia definitions (formal, self-derived, absent).
- Descriptive analysis and temporal trend analysis of definition components.
Main Results:
- Over 57% of studies lacked a definition for postoperative pneumonia.
- Self-derived definitions were common (25.2%), often combining clinical and imaging criteria.
- Use of definitions increased over time, with formal definitions, particularly the ECCG definition, gaining traction.
Conclusions:
- Heterogeneity in defining postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy persists.
- The ECCG definition offers clarity and practical applicability.
- Broader adoption of the ECCG definition is recommended to enhance research comparability.
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