title: [Influence of unexpected simultaneous splenectomy on postoperative complications and prognosis of patients undergoing radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unexpected splenectomy is sometimes performed simultaneously with radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma because of spleen injury or anatomical abnormity. This study was to investigate the influence of unexpected simultaneous splenectomy on postoperative complications and prognosis of patients undergoing radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 843 esophageal carcinoma patients, underwent esophagectomy (R0 resection) at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Aug. 1999 to Jul. 2002, were analyzed. Of these patients, 39 (4.6%) underwent splenectomy. The clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis of the patients in splenectomy group and non-splenectomy group were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in splenectomy group than in non-splenectomy group [(380+/-113) ml vs. (305+/-85) ml, P<0.001]. However, there were no significant differences in clinicopathologic characteristics, intraoperative or postoperative complications between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The occurrence rate of pulmonary complications was higher in splenectomy group than in non-splenectomy group (17.9% vs. 8.5%, P>0.05). The median survival time was shorter in splenectomy group than in non-splenectomy group (18.4 months vs. 21 months, P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unexpected simultaneous splenectomy had no effect on the long-term survival of patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma, but it may result in more intraoperative blood loss and pulmonary complications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Tie-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Lan-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Zhi-Chao
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dong-Rong
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Situ
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate