How important is the route of reconstruction after esophagectomy: a prospective randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective randomized trial was performed to compare retrosternal and posterior mediastinal gastric tube reconstruction with regard to postoperative function and quality of life.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients were randomly allocated to either retrosternal (n = 14) or posterior mediastinal (n = 12) reconstruction after gastric tube formation. Radionuclide transit studies were applied to obtain objective functional data and a standardized quality-of-life assessment was performed.


RESULTS
Retrosternal reconstruction showed an increased morbidity (15 vs 13 major complications) and mortality (14.2 vs 8.3%). Radionuclide clearance in the supine position was delayed in the gastric tube in general, compared with normal controls (retention index > 40% vs < 10%). There was a significantly higher retention (p < 0.005) in the retrosternal group in the middle third of the tube and the whole tube after intake of the liquid tracer. The retention of the first solid tracer was also higher in the retrosternal group in the middle third of the tube (p = n.s.) and was significantly higher in the whole tube after 30 (p < 0.05) and 60 (p < 0.01) s. This had no significant impact on the patients' quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The posterior mediastinal route of reconstruction is recommended but curative resection (R0) is mandatory to avoid possible complications due to local tumor relapse. After incomplete resection (R1 or R2) we recommend retrosternal reconstruction for better palliation.
Gawad
K A
KA
Department of Surgery, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Hosch
S B
SB
Bumann
D
D
Lübeck
M
M
Moneke
L C
LC
Bloechle
C
C
Knoefel
W T
WT
Busch
C
C
Küchler
T
T
Izbicki
J R
JR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*