title: Intrathoracic anastomosis after oesophageal resection for cancer.
abstract: Cervical anastomosis has been advocated to avoid the pulmonary complications and life-threatening anastomotic disruptions following intrathoracic oesophagogastric anastomosis. This is a retrospective review of 111 oesophageal resections followed by an intrathoracic anastomosis. These resections were performed between September 1993 and August 1994 within a residency training program. The left thoracoabdominal approach was used for distal tumours and the Ivor Lewis technique for more proximal tumours. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 72% patients (n = 80), adenocarcinoma for 25% (n = 28), and others for 2.7% patients (n = 3). Of the patients, 69% had pathologic Stage III tumours. Operative mortality rate was 1.8% (two patients). Perioperative complications occurred in 39 patients, including anastomotic leak in 10 patients and myocardial infarction in 2 patients. In the absence of a leak, there were no major pulmonary complications requiring intensive care or ventilatory support. Of those patients with anastomotic disruption, 80% were salvaged by early clinical diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We conclude that transthoracic oesophagectomy with an intrathoracic anastomosis is a safe procedure that can be performed with low mortality and acceptable morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bhansali
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Badwe
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies