Endoscopic vacuum therapy is a treatment for transmural defects in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including anastomotic leakage, Boerhaave syndrome and iatrogenic esophageal perforations.
Endoscopic vacuum therapy is a promising treatment with relatively easy procedures. However, the techniques and logistics, necessary for adequate treatment, can be challenging and require a learning curve. This website provides information on endoscopic vacuum therapy in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including video material, PowerPoint presentations and protocols to download.
The contents on EVT Academy are free to use for all health care professionals. If you would like to use materials from EVT Academy in presentations or publications, we would appreciate it if you ask permission by sending an e-mail. Permission to use materials is generally granted by the Program Committee if the source is cited.
You can find more on the subject, including literature, on the Studies page.
Program Committee
The Program Committee, consisting of international experts in this field, is responsible for the contents of EVT Academy.
Roos Pouw
Gastroenterologist
Amsterdam University Medical Centers
Introduction
Roos Pouw is a gastroenterologist and principal investigator at the department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Netherlands. Next to her clinical work, which is focused on endoscopic detection and treatment of early esophageal neoplasia, Roos supervises a number of research lines on endoscopic management of early Barrett's neoplasia, and endoscopic vacuum therapy.
Wietse Eshuis
Surgeon
Amsterdam University Medical Centers
Introduction
Wietse Eshuis is an Upper GI surgeon at the department of Surgery at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Netherlands. Besides his clinical work in the field of esophageal and gastric cancer surgery, Wietse is involved in several research lines, mainly aimed at improving perioperative outcomes and treatment of complications after Upper GI surgery. Endoscopic vacuum therapy is one of his main focuses and expertise.
Lisanne Pattynama
Research fellow
Amsterdam University Medical Centers
Introduction
Lisanne Pattynama dedicates her PhD trajectory to endoscopic vacuum therapy in the upper gastrointestinal tract. She coordinates several studies and projects on VAC-Sponge and -Stent, including the multicenter EVT-registry, clinical implementation of EVT, EVT-academy.com and preemptive VAC-Stent after esophagectomy to reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.
Torsten Beyna
Gastroenterologist
Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf
Introduction
Torsten Beyna is Head of Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Therapeutic Endoscopy, Medical Oncology, Pulmonology, Nephrology at Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf. His personal experience with EVT includes numerous conventional "sponge-based" and "stent-based" vacuum treatments of postoperative leakage and fistulas in the setting of an esophageal/upper GI and lower GI cancer center following endoscopic and surgical treatment.
Mats Lindblad
Surgeon
Karolinska University Hospital
Introduction
Mats Lindblad is Consultant esophago-gastric Surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Karolinska Institutet. He has used EVT therapy since 2016, mainly for anastomotic leaks after esophageal or gastric surgery and perforations in these organs. He has published some of the experience at the Karolinska University Hospital with EVT: Hayami M et al. 2020 (doi: 10.1093/dote/doaa122).
Annick van Nunen
Gastroenterologist
Zuyderland Medical Center Heerlen
Introduction
Annick van Nunen is Gastroenterologist at Zuyderland Medical Center Heerlen and focuses on innovations in oncology and premalignant diseases. Zuyderland Medical Center specializes in treatment of gastric- and esophageal cancer, as well as bariatric surgery in close collaboration with the Dutch Center of Obesity. Annick van Nunen has multiple years of experience with EVT for treatment of various etiologies, including iatrogenic perforations and anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy, gastrectomy and bariatric surgery.
Stefan Seewald
Gastroenterologist
Klinik Hirslanden Zürich
Introduction
Stefan Seewald is professor of Gastroenterology at Klinik Hirslanden in Zürich, is involved in numerous international research and has extensive expertise in endoscopic interventions. He has years of experience with endoscopic vacuum therapy and uses mostly "self-made" vacuum-sponges. Furthermore, he regularly performs EVT for duodenal defects at his clinic.