Esophageal carcinoma study in 83 cases

The surgical procedures for carcinoma of oesophagus with and without thoracotomy are compared. Since March 1987: 65 patients who were resectable (78.4%) underwent surgical procedures during a 40 months period. The ratio of male to female was 3 to 2, mostly seen in 6th decade (45%) of life. Tumor site: 6% upper 1/3, 46% middle and 48% lower third. The surgical resection procedures were: 53.8% McKeown and Akiyama et al. 33.9% transhiatal (Orringer) the rest Ivor-Lewis and endoesophageal pullthrough E.E.P.T. /24, 25/. No mortality occurred during operations, but fistula was seen in 20% of cases and the most frequent morbidity was pulmonary complications, which was seen 3 times more in procedures including thoracotomy. Increasing the mortality rate also comparing to just one death (4.6%) in transhiatal method. In 24-62 months follow-up period including 3/4 of the cases, the survival was 33.3% for transhiatal Esophagectomy = THE and 34.4% for other procedures (Transthoracic esophagectomy = TTE).