title: Transthoracic versus transhiatal resection for carcinoma of the esophagus: a meta-analysis.
abstract: There is much controversy about the surgical approach to esophageal carcinoma: should an extensive resection be done to optimize long-term survival or should the extent of the operation be limited to obtain lower perioperative morbidity and mortality rates? We systematically reviewed the English-language literature published during the past decade, with emphasis on the differences between transthoracic and transhiatal resections regarding early morbidity, in-hospital mortality rates, and 3- and 5-year survival. Although transthoracic resections had significantly higher early (pulmonary) morbidity and mortality rates, 5-year survival was approximately 20% after both transthoracic and transhiatal resections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.b.hulscher@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hulscher
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tijssen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obertop
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Lanschot
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*