title: Left thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy: still a valid operation for carcinoma of the distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction.
abstract: The left thoraco-abdominal (LTA) esophago-gastrectomy is rarely performed and yet provides excellent exposure of the esophageal hiatus. The aim of this study was to review the outcome of LTA esophago-gastrectomy within a single unit. Patients were selected for an LTA esophago-gastrectomy (January 2000 - June 2003) based upon the presence of locally advanced tumors of the distal esophagus and cardia. These patients were identified from a prospective consultant database. LTA esophagogastrectomy was technically possible in all 38 patients (34 males; median age = 63 years). In-hospital mortality was 2.6% (1 patient). Four patients (10.5%) were admitted to the intensive care unit and three (7.9%) returned to theatre. Two patients developed clinically apparent anastomotic leaks (5.3%). A potentially curative resection was performed in 34 patients (89%) but 22 (57.8%) of these patients were subsequently found to have tumor cells at or within 2 mm from the circumferential resection margin. The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 70% and 52%, respectively. Long-term complications included benign anastomotic stricture (24%), delayed gastric emptying (26%) and a persistent thoracic wound sinus (15%). LTA esophagogastrectomy remains a viable approach with an acceptably low incidence of short and long-term complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Forshaw
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gossage
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ockrim
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies