title: Outcome after transthoracic resection of carcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophago-gastric junction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of stay and long-term survival after resection of carcinoma of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction, after establishment of a new surgical team unit between thoracic and gastroenterologic surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the prospective collected data of 166 consecutive patients who underwent a transthoracic oesophageal resection between June 1997 and December 2003.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 119 men and 47 women. The median age was 63 years (range 36-81). Fifty-five patients (33%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 111 (67%) had adenocarcinoma. Postoperative complications occurred in a total of 60 patients (36%). Ten patients (6%) died postoperatively, eight (4.8%) due to medical and two (1.2 %) due to surgical complications. The median postoperative length of stay was 11 days (range 6-75). The overall 3- and 5- years survival was 35.6% and 30.6% respectively. Survival was adversely affected by patient age and tumor stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concentrating resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction to a dedicated team of specialists, including both gastrointestinal and thoracic surgeons as well as thoracic-anaesthesiological know-how, results in acceptable complication rates as well as low mortality rates especially due to surgical complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. lonej@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Pilegaard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puho
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pahle
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Melsen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome