title: The surgeon's approach to preoperative evaluation of esophageal cancer: recent developments.
abstract: Esophageal resection for cancer is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Postoperative complications may be either patient- or surgeon-related. Patient-related factors include age, malnutrition, immunodepression and associated diseases. Surgeon-related factors are surgical experience, hospital volume and multidisciplinary approach. In the last 20 years major improvements and new technologies have been proposed and applied in esophageal surgery: its evolution depended on a thorough knowledge of surgical anatomy and technique, as well as on important developments in pre- and postoperative care. Preoperative evaluation is defined as the process of clinical assessment that precedes the induction of anesthesia. The principle is to gain information about the patient that could lead to modify his/her management, and improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Insubria, Varese, Italy. gianlorenzo.dionigi@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: Gianlorenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovera
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrafiello
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mangini
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dionigi
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000637:transplantation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018529:Nutritional Support; D010819:Physician's Role; D011300:Preoperative Care