[Perioperative treatment after esophagogastric surgery]

Extended gastric and esophageal resection is still associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality. We performed a retrospective analysis of the perioperative management of 72 patients who had undergone such operations during a one-year period. Patient and management variables were analyzed by multivariate statistical methods to identify pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors which influence the results. The investigation of preoperative data revealed an increase of esophageal cancer among younger (< 55 years) patients (12 patients underwent gastrectomy and 22 esophageal resection). The intensity of smoking was significantly higher compared to the elderly (11.27 vs. 7.4 cigarettes/day; p < 0.05); and the same applies to alcohol consumption. In older patients (> 55 years of age), the duration of postoperative artificial ventilation was significantly longer (10.1 vs. 4 hours, p < 0.05) and the prevalence of septic complication was higher, than in younger patients. All three postoperative deaths recorded in this series occurred in the group of elderly patients. A preoperative weight loss exceeding 10 per cent of body weight was associated with significantly longer postoperative stay (21.6 vs. 17.4 days; p < 0.001), as well as with need for longer parenteral feeding (13.05 vs. 10.06 days; p < 0.005). Operations longer than 6 hours were associated with significantly longer postoperative ventilation period (14.44 vs. 5.31 hours; p < 0.02), need for longer stay intensive care unit (10.56 vs. 6.55 days; p < 0.001) and longer postoperative stay (21.56 vs. 17.64 days; p < 0.05). The prevalence of pulmonary complications was connected to the duration of the operation (10/16 vs. 3/55). We also describe and analyse two contemporary methods designed for monitoring circulatory parameters (PICCO) and tissue oxygenation (gastrotonometry). The analysis of postoperative data demonstrates that postoperative pain control with continuous epidural analgesia is superior to methods as it shortens the length of stay on the intensive care unit (7.15 vs. 10.67 days; p < 0.05) and postoperative hospitalisation (18.06 vs. 23.50 days; p < 0.05). Nutritional support is essential after esophageal anastomosis till oral feeding can start. Enteral nutrition was given through a jejunal tube that had been inserted intraoperatively. Calorie intake was built up step by step to a maintenance level of 31.2 kcal/day, which was administered until oral feeding could be started (mean duration 10.94 days; maximum duration: 42 days). We conclude that careful selection of patients, appropriate intra- and postoperative management, with adequate postoperative pain control can reduce postoperative morbidity and length of inpatient stay.