title: Peri-operative care for oesophagectomy patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors relevant to morbidity and mortality in 54 patients undergoing oesophagectomy at Royal Newcastle Hospital between 1985 and March 1989. There was a high incidence of concurrent medical problems. Significant anaesthetic complications occurred in 6 patients. There were 16 serious general medical complications and 10 surgical complications. Respiratory complications included basal collapse (19), sputum retention (6), pulmonary oedema (2), pleural effusion/haemothorax (5), and severe aspiration syndrome (5). Seven patients required mechanical ventilation for more than 3 days. Two deaths occurred postoperatively. As a result of this audit, changes have occurred in patient selection, management of chylothorax, epidural analgesia and timing of tracheal extubation.
authors.affiliation: Royal Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Byth
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mullens
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D008485:Medical Audit; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality