Esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

Esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus or cardia has been performed in 32 patients with histologically proven hepatic cirrhosis. Thirty-one esophagogastrectomies were performed through a separate abdominal and right thoracic approach in 25 patients, a left thoracoabdominal approach in five patients, and without thoracotomy in two patients. One patient had a colon interposition. Seven patients died after operation (21%) as a result of anastomotic leakage in two patients, hepatorenal in four patients and portal thrombosis in one patient. The type of procedure did not influence mortality. The most common postoperative complication was the development of ascites (68%), and when associated with hepatorenal syndrome (in four patients) there was significant mortality (p less than 0.05). Sepsis was present in the terminal stages of all nonsurvivors. A prothrombin time less than or equal to 60% of normal values was the only significant preoperative predictive factor of mortality, with none of the three patients surviving below this level (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that the presence of cirrhosis is not a contraindication to esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma when curative resection can be undertaken. Hepatic reserve is the determinant factor of operative prognosis. Operative risk is acceptable if patients are classified as Child's class A, and prothrombin time is over 60% of normal values. Operation should be delayed when acute alcoholic hepatitis is present. Intraoperative discovery of cirrhosis is not a contraindication to resection when the above criteria are met.