Minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer patients with low pulmonary function

The aim of the study is to assess postoperative pulmonary complications after minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer patients with severe preoperative pulmonary dysfunction.

From 2004 to 2007, 37 patients underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in our department. This procedure included hand-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and mediastinoscope-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy. The preoperative pulmonary function was evaluated using spirometry based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease system. Five of them had severe preoperative pulmonary dysfunction.

Two of these patients developed aspiration pneumonia after the operation, which was successfully treated with antibiotics. The operating time, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication, and the duration of hospital stay were comparable for these five patients and those without preoperative pulmonary dysfunction.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy can be safely performed for esophageal cancer patients with severe preoperative pulmonary dysfunction.