[Treatment of early-stage upper and/or middle thoracic esophageal cancer with a new muscle-sparing thoracotomy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of performing muscle-sparing thoracotomy and intercostal sutures in the treatment of upper and/or middle thoracic esophageal cancer for the purpose of tumor control and postoperative quality of life improvement.


METHODS
Seven patients with esophageal cancer were treated with vertical muscle-sparing thoracotomy and Mckeown esophagectomy. Detailed clinic data were summarized and analyzed with patient follow-up information.


RESULTS
Of the 7 patients, five were still alive with a 71.4% five-year survival rate. There were no deaths resulting from the operation in this group. The mean length of thoracic incision was 11 cm. The range of hospital stays was 14 to 25 days, with a mean length of 18 days. No patients complained of impaired shoulder action, and the incision pain was hardly perceived without external stimulation 1 month after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Performing the muscle-sparing thoracotomy in the treatment of early-stage esophageal cancer located in the upper and /or middle thoracic segment yields a satisfactory long-term survival rate with an improved life quality in terms of incision pain relief and shoulder function.
Wu
Nan
N
Department of Thoracic Surgery,Peking University School of Oncology,Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing 100036, China.
Yang
Yue
Y
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome