[Esophagus resection without thoracotomy in cancer. Report of experiences with 100 cases]

Between 1980 and 1984 126 patients were admitted to the surgical department of the University of Düsseldorf for cancer of the esophagus. 100 (= 79%) patients were operated upon. In the majority of cases we dealt with advanced tumors (76% stage III and IV UICC). In 87 patients the esophagus was removed by transhiatal blunt dissection. In 13 patients the tumor bearing esophagus was bypassed by the substernally transferred stomach. Overall mortality was 20%. Varying with tumor stage the median time of survival was 5,5 months, again with wide variation depending of tumor stage. Only in stage I and II tumors there is a chance of significant prolongation of life or even cure. The majority of our patients and their relatives considered the outcome of the operation as a success, even if the time of survival was only short.