[Analysis of tracheostomy for patients after thoracic esophageal cancer resection]

Tracheostomy is an available method for respiratory management, but a consensus has not been reached with regard to the significance of postoperative respiratory management. So, we analyzed postoperative tracheostomy patients of esophageal cancer and clarified its significance. We analyzed 26 patients from among 85 who underwent resection for thoracic esophageal cancer between April 1989 and December 1992. We divided them into 3 groups according to the indications of tracheostomy, group I: cases with postoperative pulmonary complications (n: 17), group II: cases of prophylaxis against pulmonary complications (n: 5) and group III: cases with dyspnea deriving from postoperative recurrent nerve palsy (n: 4). Tracheostomy was most often performed between 3 and 4 POD in group I, up to 1 POD in group II and from 5 POD to 7 POD in group III. Long-term respiratory support was needed in 13 cases in group I and 2 cases in group II. The rate of tracheostomy was higher in the case who had postoperative recurrent nerve palsy and received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. All cases excluding a case of MOF had a good clinical course after tracheostomy. We were able to clarify the significance of tracheostomy by dividing tracheostomy patients into 3 groups according to the indications for the procedure. It was concluded that tracheostomy is a very useful technique in the respiratory management of resected thoracic esophageal cancer patients.