Oesophagectomy for carcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction.
OBJECTIVE
Oesophageal carcinoma has a poor prognosis; surgical resection remains the only chance of cure but is still associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to review the results of one surgeon for oesophageal resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction over a 23 year period.


METHODS
Between January 1974 and December 1996, 591 patients (408 males; 183 females; mean age 66 years) underwent an oesophageal resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus or oesophagogastric junction.


RESULTS
In hospital mortality was 8.8% (52/591). This has decreased to less than 5% for resections between 1985 and 1996. Non-fatal complications occurred in 21% of patients (123/591). Survival, including in hospital mortality (+/-SEM), was 53.98% (+/-2), 31.77% (+/-2) and 15.3% (+/-2) at 1, 2 and 5 years respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Early mortality following oesophageal resection has fallen in recent years. Despite considerable experience, long term survival remains disappointingly low.
Dalrymple-Hay
M J
MJ
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
Evans
K B
KB
Lea
R E
RE
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome