Relationship between preoperative assessment of organ function and postoperative morbidity in patients with oesophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To find out if strict assessment of organ function preoperatively predicted morbidity and mortality in patients being operated on for oesophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Japan.


METHODS
178 patients operated on for oesophageal cancer 1989-1993.


METHODS
Oesophagectomy and reconstruction (using either stomach or colon) in one stage by a right thoracoabdominal approach in 173, and transhiatal resection in 5 with either poor pulmonary reserve or early lesions.


METHODS
Correlation between preoperative assessment of organ function and postoperative development of complications.


RESULTS
79 patients (44%) developed complications and 6 died (3%). Pulmonary dysfunction preoperatively was significantly associated with the development of all complications (p=0.001) and of postoperative pulmonary complications (p=0.04). No other preoperative assessment correlated significantly with the development of postoperative complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate preoperative assessment of pulmonary function is a valuable indicator of postoperative morbidity.
Kuwano
H
H
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sumiyoshi
K
K
Sonoda
K
K
Kitamura
K
K
Tsutsui
S
S
Toh
Y
Y
Kitamura
M
M
Sugimachi
K
K
D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data