[Esophageal resections and plastics]

The aim was to evaluate interim results of surgery and plastics for esophageal diseases. From March 2002 to August 2003, 31 patients underwent esophageal resections in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Klaipeda Hospital. The following operations were performed: 10 patients (32.3%) had transthoracic resections, 10 patients (32.3%) - transhiatal resections, 2 patients (6.5%) - Lewis type, 5 patients (16.1%) - Garlock type and 4 patients (12.9%) - first step of Thoreck type operations. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) underwent surgery due to cancer, 3 patients (9.7%) due to esophagus perforation, 1 patient (3.2%) due to peptic stricture, 1 patient (3.2%) due to post-burn stricture, and 1 patient (3.2%) due to gastric necrosis. In 7 cases (22.6%) combined esophageal resections were performed: 2 patients (6.5%) with lung segmentectomies, 2 patients (6.5%) with liver metastasis resections, 1 patient (3.25%) with right lower lobectomy, and 2 patients (6.5%) with proximal gastric metastasis resection. In 58% of patients we observed postoperative complications; lethal outcome was present in 5 patients (16.1%).

Subtotal esophageal resection with gastric pipe reconstruction and two-level lymphadenectomies are sufficient radical treatment in cancer patients. Postoperative mortality (16.1%) after 31 resections depends on stage of disease, performance status, comorbidity, surgeon experience and type of operation.