title: Oesophagectomy without thoracotomy: first 250 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate morbidity, mortality and cure rate after transhiatal oesophagectomy for carcinoma of the oesophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 1986 to June 1993 a total of 250 consecutive patients underwent one stage transhiatal oesophagectomy with cervical oesophagogastrostomy for carcinoma of the oesophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transhiatal oesophagectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality was 6% (14/250) and complications included recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (n = 35, 14%), anastomotic leak (n = 38, 15%), respiratory failure (n = 8, 3%), anastomotic stenosis (n = 44, 18%) and anastomotic recurrence (n = 3, 1%). The actuarial survival at one year was 45% and at five years was 5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transhiatal oesophagectomy is safe and well tolerated for the treatment of carcinoma of the oesophagus when done with care. Avoidance of thoracotomy, adequate longitudinal clearance, cervical anastomosis, and a short operating time are its main advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical, Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013908:Thoracotomy