title: Esophagectomy in the septuagenarian.
abstract: As the population continues to age, older patients are being referred for thoracic surgical procedures with increasing frequency. From 1985 through 1992, 38 patients (32 men, 6 women) 70 years of age or older underwent esophagectomy for primary esophageal carcinoma. Histologic findings included adenocarcinoma in 28 (74%) and squamous carcinoma in 10 (26%). Patients suffered dysphagia for a mean of 3.8 months (range, 0 to 30 months) and had a mean weight loss of 5.8 kg (range, 0 to 22 kg). The tumors ranged from 1 to 14 cm in length and averaged 4.7 cm. Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy were administered in 11 patients (46%). Clinical staging suggested all patients were curable, and esophagectomy was performed in a transthoracic fashion in 27 (71%) and from a transhiatal approach in 11 (29%). Cervical anastomoses were undertaken in 16 patients (42%). The mean blood loss was 1,165 mL and ranged from 500 to 4,000 mL. The mean number of transfused units was 2.3 (range 0 to 8 U). Overall operative mortality was 18% (7 of 38). Major morbidity included pneumonia in 11 (29%), anastomotic leak in 4 (11%), chylothorax in 4 (11%), pulmonary embolus in 3 (8%), and stroke and myocardial infarction in 1 patient each (3%). Three patients have been cured of their esophageal cancer with survivals of 65, 70, and 72 months and an additional 7 patients are still alive. Three patients (8%) have been lost to follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Louis University Medical Center, MO 63110-0250.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Naunheim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanosh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwischenberger
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Turrentine
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kesler
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Reeder
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Baue
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015996:Survival Rate