Salvage esophagectomy for local recurrent esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by photodynamic therapy: A case report

IntroductionPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is performed as a salvage treatment for patients with residual or recurrent esophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Although PDT is considered less invasive than salvage surgery, it is unclear how deep its effects are and whether it causes damage to adjacent tissues. Herein, we report a case of esophageal cancer treated with PDT followed by esophagectomy. In this case, we evaluated the effect of PDT on adjacent tissues based on surgical and pathological examination.Presentation of caseA 58-year-old man with dysphagia was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC; T1N0M0, Stage I) in the upper thoracic esophagus. He underwent definitive CRT with two courses of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin every 4 weeks with 60 Gy of radiation. Twelve months after CRT, endoscopic examination revealed local recurrence, and PDT using talaporfin sodium was performed. The tumor recurred again 6 months after PDT, and robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed as a definitive treatment. Tissues around the left side of the esophagus and thoracic duct were tightly adherent with severe fibrosis and were successfully removed by extended resection. Histopathological examinations showed that the esophageal wall and peri-esophageal tissue were replaced by fibrous tissue and this extended even beyond the tumor.DiscussionThe primary tumor was limited to the submucosal layer, and the target for irradiation had some longitudinal margins. Therefore, PDT can cause intense inflammation in tissues adjacent to the tumor.ConclusionsIt is necessary to consider the location when performing salvage esophagectomy after PDT.     

Salvage esophagectomy under bilateral thoracotomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy for aorta T4 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Report of a case

IntroductionThe surgical technique for esophagectomy to treat esophageal malignancies has been improved over the past several decades. Nevertheless, it remains extremely difficult to surgically treat patients with locally advanced T4b tumors invading the aorta or respiratory tract.Presentaion of caseA 37-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with T4b (descending aorta) N2M0, Stage IIIC middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. He was initially treated with definitive CRT followed by 3 courses of DCF. After the DCF, CT showed that the main tumor had shrunk and appeared to have separated from the descending aorta. Therefore we decided to perform a salvage esophagectomy. Because we needed the ability to closely observe the site of invasion to determine whether aortic invasion was still present, half the esophageal resection was performed under right thoracotomy, but the final resection at the invasion site was performed under left thoracotomy. Consequently, the thoracic esophagus was safely removed and aortic replacement was avoided. The patient has now survived more than 30 months after the salvage esophagectomy with no additional treatment for esophageal cancer and no evidence of recurrent disease.DiscussionBecause this and the previously reported procedures, each have particular advantages and disadvantages, one must contemplate and select an approach based on the situation for each individual patient.ConclusionSalvage esophagectomy through a right thoracotomy followed by careful observation of the invasion site for possible aortic replacement through a left thoracotomy is an optional procedure for these patients.     

Factors Influencing the Long-Term Survival in Patients with Esophageal Cancer Who Underwent Esophagectomy After Chemoradiotherapy

Background

Salvage esophagectomy is potentially the only treatment available that can offer a chance of long-term survival when definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) fails to achieve local control for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, salvage esophagectomy is a highly invasive procedure with various postoperative complications compared to planned esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We hypothesize that severe postoperative complications may affect not only surgical mortality but also tumor recurrence and long-term survival for patients with salvage esophagectomy after definitive CRT.

Methods

For the present study we reviewed the surgical procedures, postoperative complications, and the prognosis of 65 consecutive patients with thoracic ESCC who underwent the esophagectomy after neoadjuvant (neoadjuvant group: n = 40) or definitive (salvage group: n = 25) CRT.

Results

Most patients underwent right-transthoracic extended esophagectomy and reconstruction using gastric conduit by way of subcutaneous route with left cervical anastomosis. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was found to be higher in the salvage group than in the neoadjuvant group. In both groups, the survival of patients with R0 resection was significantly better than those with R1/R2 resection. Moreover, in the salvage group, the postoperative survival rate of patients with pneumonia or bacteremia/sepsis was significantly lower than that for patients who did not suffer the same complications. In the neoadjuvant group, R0 resection was selected to be the only independent prognostic factor in univariate and multivariate analysis. In contrast, in the salvage group, R0 resection and bacteremia/sepsis remained significant and were independent of the other factors in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

This study reveals that postoperative morbidity affects not only the perioperative mortality but also the long-term survival of patients with ESCC who undergo salvage esophagectomy after definitive CRT.     

Salvage esophagectomy following definitive chemoradiotherapy

Objectives To evaluate the outcome of salvage surgery following definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Methods We reviewed patients undergoing salvage esophagectomy from August 2000 through April 2006 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, following 5-fluorouracil and cisplatinum chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy over 50 Gy. Clinicopathological backgrounds, complications, and survival were analyzed. Results Forty-six patients (42 men, all with squamous cell carcinoma) underwent salvage surgery after full-dose concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The median age was 61 years (range, 43–72). Thirteen patients had a relapse after complete response; 26 patients partial response; 4 patients progressive disease; 3 patients NC to CRT. Salvage surgery consisted of transthoracic esophagectomy, three-field node dissection, and reconstruction with the colon or stomach with vascular restoration. Operation time ranged from 257 to 602 min. Postoperative complications were pneumonia in 5; anastmotic leakage in 10; wound infection in 3; anastomotic stenosis in 2; recurrent nerve palsy in 4; pyothorax in 2; multiple organ failure in 1; myocardial infarction in 1; trachea necrosis in 1. There were four 30-day operative deaths and three more hospital deaths. The median survival time from salvage surgery was 12 months and that from CRT was 22 months. The 3-year survival rate was 17%. Three patients are surviving more than 3 years and their diseases were pathological N0. Conclusion Mobidity and mortality rates were high among patients undergoing salvage esophagectomy. However, there are some long-term survivors, and highly selected patients should be indicated for salvage surgery. Presented at the 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery, held in Tokyo, Japan, October 1–4, 2006     

Salvage Lymphadenectomy for Recurrent Esophageal Cancer After Chemoradiotherapy

Although salvage esophagectomies are widely performed, reports on salvage lymphadenectomy (SL) are few. We review our SL cases to clarify the indications. Fifty-five patients with esophageal cancer underwent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, including 3 patients with single lymph node (LN) recurrences and one with allochronic double cervical node recurrence. Our department removed 5 recurrent LNs from these 4 patients. In Case 1, right supraclavicular LN was judged to be metastatic and R0 resection was carried out; he is alive without recurrence. In Case 2, we found, allochronically, metastases in his left cervical paraesophageal LN and left supraclavicular LN; residual tumors were R1 in both lesions. He is alive despite esophageal recurrence. In Case 3, a lymphadenectomy was performed on his thoracic para-aortic LN; however, tumor was removed incompletely, and he died 4 months after SL from disease progression. In Case 4, a subcarinal LN was thought to be metastatic, and was removed but no malignant tissues detected. He died 17 months after SL from pneumonia. Our experiences suggest that some patients survive relatively long with SL. Moreover, molecular examination of resected lesions could guide subsequent therapies. SL might be more widely used for these patients if not otherwise contraindicated.Key words: Esophageal cancer, salvage lymphadenectomy, Salvage surgery, Esophagectomy, ChemoradiotherapyEsophageal cancer is the eighth most common form of cancer worldwide, and is one of the most difficult malignancies to cure.¹ Excluding cases with severe concomitant diseases, surgery is the best modality to cure esophageal cancer.² However, many patients with esophageal cancer have concomitant diseases that are associated with alcohol and tobacco consumption, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, and synchronous cancers of the lung or head and neck region.³ For patients with such concomitant diseases, chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is usually performed to cure esophageal cancer. For unresectable advanced-stage tumors, CRT is also used, and sometimes has favorable results. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial (RTOG 85-01) has established CRT without surgery as one standard for definitive treatment.⁴ Many patients and oncologists have accepted the nonsurgical approach with CRT as definitive therapy for esophageal carcinoma. Although complete response (CR) rates are high and short-term survival is favorable after definitive CRT, locoregional disease persists or recurs in 40–60% of patients.⁵ From Japan, a phase II study of CRT for Stage II–III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (JCOG9906)⁶ found a CR rate of 62.2%, with 34.2% patients having residual or locoregional recurrence without distant metastasis after CRT.For resectable residual or recurrent lesions after definitive CRT, surgical excision is the only curative modality. Therefore, such operations are called salvage surgery. In Japan, salvage surgery is defined as a procedure for recurrent or residual cancer after definitive CRT (RT > 50 Gy)⁷ and thought to be the only curative method. Conversely, salvage surgery is widely considered elsewhere to be a type of palliative surgery—the excision of tissue to reduce the risk of death due to physiologic derangement. Although salvage esophagectomy is performed in many institutions in Japan,^8–13 reports on salvage lymphadenectomy (SL) are still few.^14,15 In this article, we review our SL cases, and examine indications for this kind of surgery.     

Salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: Although local recurrence of advanced esophageal cancer is frequent after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT), the clinical benefit of salvage esophagectomy has not been elucidated. METHODS: We reviewed 27 patients with squamous-cell cancer who underwent esophagectomy after definitive CRT (> or = 50 Gy) (salvage group) and 28 patients who underwent planned esophagectomy after neoadjuvant CRT (30 to 45 Gy) (neoadjuvant group). RESULTS: The preoperative albumin level and vital capacity were significantly lower in the salvage group than in the neoadjuvant group. Two patients (7.4%) from the salvage group who underwent extended esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy died of postoperative complications, but no deaths occurred after less-invasive surgery. There was no difference of overall postoperative survival between the salvage and neoadjuvant groups. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of salvage esophagectomy after definitive CRT was similar to that of planned esophagectomy after neoadjuvant CRT. Less-invasive procedures might be better for salvage esophagectomy because of the high operative risk.     

Salvage oesophagectomy after local failure of definitive chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is one treatment option for locally advanced oesophageal carcinoma. CRT typically consists of high-dose (50-66 Gy) external beam radiotherapy concurrent with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. When definitive CRT fails to achieve local control, salvage oesophagectomy is frequently the only treatment available that can offer a chance of long-term survival. METHODS: Online databases were searched for publications relating to salvage oesophagectomy and definitive CRT. Nine series containing a total of 105 patients were reviewed. Demographics, indications for surgery, type of resection, complications and outcome data were extracted. RESULTS: Each centre performed one to three salvage resections per year comprising 1.7-4.1 per cent of the oesophagectomy workload. The overall anastomotic leak rate was 17.1 per cent. The in-hospital mortality rate was 11.4 per cent. Five-year survival rates of 25-35 per cent were achieved. Prognostic factors for increased survival were R0 resection (P = 0.006) and longer interval between CRT and recurrence (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Salvage resection after CRT is feasible for selected patients but is a formidable undertaking. Restaging investigations after CRT for potentially resectable tumours in fit candidates should include endoscopy and positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Salvage oesophagectomy is carried out with the goal of cure and it should be attempted only if an R0 resection is technically possible.     

Definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Surgical resection has widely accepted as the first-choice treatment for esophageal carcinoma in Japan, and it has improved the survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma during the past decades. However, the survival rate remains relatively poor compared with that of other gastrointestinal carcinomas. Physical handicaps after esophagectomy also cannot be ignored. Definitive chemoradiation has become an accepted treatment for esophageal carcinoma. Persistent or recurrent local disease is often the problem to be solved. In this case, selected patients with local failures can be salvaged by esophagectomy. In this paper we discuss recent improvements in definitive chemoradiotherapy and the definition of salvage esophagectomy. We also present our short-term results of a prospective phase II study of definitive chemoradiotherapy and salvage esophagectomy in patients with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.     

A case of carcinoma of the esophagus involving the trachea undergoing anterior mediastinal tracheostomy with pedicled omental wrapping

A 62-year-old male who complained of dysphagia, body weight loss and hoarseness was admitted to our hospital. Chest x-ray film disclosed right superior mediastinal mass compressing membranous portion of trachea. Esophageal fiberscope revealed carcinoma of cervical esophagus. Bronchofiberscope revealed the paralysis of right recurrent laryngeal nerve and the invasion of esophageal cancer to tracheal membranous portion from the 5th tracheal ring to the 12th. The cancer also invaded the right lobe of thyroid which was shown by echogram. Operation was performed. On dissecting the cervical region, it was found that the tumor invaded both sides of the trachea so that tracheal reconstruction could not be done without injuring left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Sternotomy was added. Anterior mediastinal tracheostomy was done after laryngeal resection with total thoracic esophagectomy and tracheal resection leaving 5 rings long cartilage from carina. The trachea was wrapped with pedicled omentum. Post-operative course was uneventful. This procedure helps to increase blood supply to the tracheal anastomosis and turns to advantage in preventing infectious extension around trachea to mediastinum as well as tracheal compression to major vessels.     

Role of salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Chemoradiotherapy has become a popular definitive therapy among many patients and oncologists for potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma. Although the complete response rates are high and short-term survival is favorable after chemoradiotherapy, persistent or recurrent locoregional disease is quite frequent. Salvage surgery is the sole curative intent treatment option for this course. As experience with definitive chemoradiotherapy grows, the number of salvage surgeries may increase. Selected articles about salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma are reviewed. The number of salvage surgeries was significantly lower than the number of expected candidates. To identify candidates for salvage surgery, patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy should be followed up carefully. Salvage esophagectomy is difficult when dissecting fibrotic masses from irradiated tissues. Patients who underwent salvage esophagectomy had increased morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome were common. The anastomotic leak rate was significantly increased because of the effects of the radiation administered to the tissues used as conduits. The most significant factor associated with long-term survival appeared to be complete resection. However, precise evaluation of resectability before operation was difficult. Nevertheless, increased morbidity and mortality will be acceptable in exchange for potential long-term survival after salvage esophagectomy. Such treatment should be considered for carefully selected patients at specialized centers. This review was submitted at the invitation of the editorial committee.     

A case of pulmonary metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea

A 33-year-old woman with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea was treated by resection of the upper and mid-trachea, plus total laryngectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, partial resection of the cervical esophageal muscle layer and mediastinal tracheostomy. This tumor invaded directly into the thyroid gland, the larynx, the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the cervical esophagus. Three years after the operation, metastases developed in the right lung (S10, S2) and partial resection of the lung was performed. This patient is now free from disease. Aggressive surgical resection is important for the improvement of survival in this condition, although this tumor shows low grade malignancy and is slowly growing.     

Definitive Chemoradiotherapy and Salvage Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer Associated With Multiple Lung Metastases: A Case Report

The prognosis of esophageal cancer with distant metastasis is dismal. We report a 70-year-old man with esophageal cancer and multiple lung and lymph node metastases. Complete response was achieved following definitive chemoradiotherapy. Twenty-four months after the initial chemoradiotherapy, local recurrence was detected but there was no evidence of distant metastasis. Therefore, the patient underwent salvage esophagectomy. The surgery was well tolerated without any postoperative complications. The patient is still alive 48 months after the salvage surgery. Our experience suggests that salvage esophagectomy is an important component of multimodal therapy for the recurrence of esophageal cancer.Key words: Esophageal cancer, Chemoradiotherapy, Salvage surgeryThe prognosis of esophageal cancer has improved in recent years, but remains poor despite curative resection.¹ The prognosis is extremely dismal in patients with distant metastasis. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trial 85-01 showed that chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improved outcomes, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 26% compared with 0% following radiotherapy alone. Moreover, residual cancer was less common following CRT (26%) than following radiotherapy alone (37%).² However, local recurrence occurs in 37% of patients after definitive CRT.³ Salvage esophagectomy is one strategy for residual cancer or local recurrence after definitive CRT. Of note, when R0 resection is achieved, long-term survival can be expected.⁴⁻⁶ On the other hand, this is an invasive procedure associated with high morbidity and mortality⁶ and the patient''s prognosis is extremely poor after R1/R2 resection.⁴⁻⁶ Therefore, salvage esophagectomy should only be performed if complete removal of the tumor is expected.Here, we report a rare case with esophageal cancer and multiple lung metastases, in which complete response (CR) was achieved after definitive CRT and salvage esophagectomy was effective for the local recurrence.     

Merits and Demerits of Operative Procedure to the Trachea in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Local radical thyroidectomy, including cervical lymph node dissection and combined circumferential resection of the trachea, has been performed over the past 20 years in 31 patients with differentiated cancer invading the trachea. The 5- and 10-year survival rates for these patients were 77.4% and 66.7%, respectively. In 19 of the 31 (61%) cases the recurrent nerve was resected because of direct cancer invasion. Bilateral recurrent nerve palsy occurred in 12 patients, 3 of whom were managed postoperatively using a T-shaped tube for preservation of the larynx. Hoarseness remained in 21 patients. In two patients with recurrent cancer invasion of the larynx, partial laryngectomy and hemilaryngectomy were performed, and reconstruction was done using ear cartilage without postoperative dyspnea or dysphagia. Parathyroid function is an important factor in regard to the quality of life of patients. In 22 patients at least one of the parathyroids was preserved. Postoperative calcium administration was necessary in 14 patients. Our long-term observations indicate that local radical thyroidectomy with combined resection of the trachea can serve as a useful treatment for advanced differentiated cancer invading the airway.     

Salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Salvage surgery is the sole curative-intent treatment option for patients with esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy. The most significant factor associated with long-term survival appears to be RO resection. Patients who undergo salvage esophagectomy have high morbidity and mortality rates. Extended three-field lymphadenectomy should be limited in salvage surgery. Ischemic tracheobronchial lesions are serious complications of salvage esophagectomy. The right posterior bronchial artery should be preserved, and neck dissection should be avoided to preserve the blood supply from the inferior thyroidal artery to the trachea. The anastomotic leak rate is also significantly increased after salvage esophagectomy. Irradiation of the esophagus and stomach may affect the blood supply, which may then contribute to leakage. Gastric conduit necrosis in the posterior mediastinum can cause mortal mediastinitis, necessitating surgical modifications to reduce the impact of leaks into the thoracic cavity. The reconstruction route was changed to the anterior mediastinum with cervical anastomosis. Long-term or late cardiopulmonary toxicity cannot be ignored in patients who undergo salvage esophagectomy. A high morbidity rate is acceptable in view of the potential for long-term survival after salvage esophagectomy. Patients should be carefully selected for salvage esophagectomy after high-dose chemoradiotherapy at referral centers that specialize in esophageal cancer treatment.     

Lymphadenectomy via a cervical approach for upper mediastinal lymph node recurrence of esophageal cancer: Report of a case

Although there have been several reports about salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT), the effectiveness of lymphadenectomy for lymph node recurrence after CRT has not been fully evaluated. Radiation-induced tissue injury and fibrosis make lymphadenectomy after CRT difficult, therefore the choice of surgical approach should be considered carefully. We performed lymphadenectomy via a cervical approach in a 76-year-old man with upper mediastinal lymph node recurrence. He had previously undergone subtotal esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the upper thoracic esophagus. At 33 months after the operation, left upper mediastinal lymph node recurrence occurred. After localized CRT with docetaxel plus 60 Gy radiation, the tumor disappeared. However, at 1 year after CRT a lymph node recurrence, measuring 10 mm in size, was found in the same position on a computed tomography (CT) scan and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) without other recurrences. Lymphadenectomy was performed via a left cervical approach using a Kent retractor to extend the surgical view of the cervicothoracic region. The patient was discharged without complications, and a postoperative CT scan and FDG-PET revealed complete resection of the tumor. In conclusion, our surgical procedure provides a good surgical view, and decreases surgical stress and the incidence of postoperative complications.     

侧俯卧位胸、腹腔镜食管癌切除术的临床应用价值

目的探讨侧俯卧位胸、腹腔镜食管癌切除术的可行性和临床应用价值。方法2011年6月-2012年8月,对45例I～Ⅲ期食管癌行侧俯卧位胸、腹腔镜食管癌切除术。先侧俯卧位,在胸腔镜下经右胸游离食管并清扫胸部淋巴结;再改平卧位,头高脚低分腿位,右倾30^。,术者位于患者左侧、扶镜手位于患者两腿中间,在腹腔镜下游离胃并清扫腹部淋巴结;上腹正中5cm切口,将胃提出腹腔外,制成管状胃;左颈部斜切口,将胃由膈肌裂孑L经右胸上提到左颈部,与食管在左颈部吻合。结果全组45例无中转开胸开腹,手术时间（260±60）min。术中失血量（200±80）ml。术后胸腔引流总量（860±330）ml。术后住院时间（10±3）d。术后胸胃穿孔,二次手术后吻合口漏1例,肺部感染4例,喉返神经损伤2例,心律失常2例,切口感染1例,胃瘫1例。术后随访1～13个月,平均6．5月,无肿瘤复发或转移。结论侧俯卧位胸、腹腔镜食管癌切除术在技术上安全可行。     

Mediastinal granular cell tumor arising from the left recurrent nerve; report of a case

Granular cell tumor is found in various organs but is rare in the mediastinum. We report a case of 36-year-old woman with a granular cell tumor in the left upper mediastinum. She was admitted to our hospital because of hoarseness. Laryngoscopic examination revealed left vocal cord paralysis. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a 3.0 x 2.0 cm well circumscribed tumor at the left side of the trachea in the left upper mediastinum. As hoarseness was suspected to be attributable to the mediastinal tumor, tumor resection was performed. It was found that the tumor involved the left recurrent nerve. The tumor was completely excised with combined resection of the left recurrent nerve. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of cells with eosinophilic granules and S-100 protein positive materials in the cytoplasm, and diagnosed a granular cell tumor.     

Surgical treatment of esophageal carcinoma complicated by fistulas.

OBJECTIVES: The locally advanced esophageal carcinoma can be complicated by fistulas. According to published data, the incidence rate of malignant esophageal fistulas is about 13%. The range of treatment modalities proposed by different authors varies from palliation to active and, if possible, radical surgical interventions. In the present study, we investigated combined esophagectomies as a radical treatment of the malignant esophageal fistulas. METHODS: Thirty-five patients (aged 28--67) with malignant esophageal fistulas of different localizations were operated over a period from 1990 to 2000. The tumor was located in the upper, middle and lower thoracic esophagus in four, 20 and 11 cases, respectively. The malignant fistula with the mediastinum, pleural cavity, lungs, bronchi and trachea was observed in 21, two, five, four and three cases, respectively. Subtotal esophagectomy and esophagogastroplasty were performed in 18 patients; subtotal esophagectomy with intrapleural coloesophagoplasty was performed in one case; proximal gastric and lower thoracic esophageal resection from the left-side abdominothoracic approach was performed in three cases. Esophagogastric bypass anastomoses were formed in ten patients. Gastrostomy was performed in three patients. RESULTS: The complication rate was 40% (14 out of 35); the postoperative mortality was 14.3% (five out of 35). In patients after esophageal resection, the mortality rate was 13.6% (three out of 22). With a median survival of 13 months (range, 3--31), the 2-year survival rate was 21% after combined esophagectomies. CONCLUSIONS: The goal of surgery for esophageal cancer with various fistulas is to completely resect the primary tumor and involved adjacent structures with clear surgical margins and extended two-field lymphadenectomy. The importance of performing a complete resection is stressed by the absence of 1-year survivors among patients who underwent bypass surgery or gastrostomy. We consider that en-bloc combined resection of esophageal cancer complicated by fistula can be done with a low mortality.     

喉返神经旁淋巴结切除对T1N0M0期食管鳞状细胞癌患者预后及相关并发症的影响

目的对比术中进行不同方式喉返神经旁淋巴结切除的患者喉返神经损伤相关并发症和预后情况,以评估喉返神经旁淋巴结切除的安全性和必要性。方法回顾性分析2014年6月至2016年5月于华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院胸外科行食管癌根治术的153例T1N0M0期食管鳞状细胞癌(鳞癌)患者的临床资料,其中男125例、女28例,平均年龄62岁。所有患者都进行了双侧喉返神经旁淋巴结采样。根据淋巴结切除情况,将患者分为3组:术中切除双侧喉返神经旁淋巴结各1枚的患者作为采样组(49例);一侧喉返神经旁淋巴结切除1枚,另一侧喉返神经旁淋巴结切除数量>1枚的患者作为单侧清扫组(49例);双侧喉返神经旁淋巴结切除数量都>1枚的患者作为双侧清扫组(55例)。术后随访,比较各组患者之间预后的差异。术后7 d使用电子喉镜检查患者声带情况并采用Clavien-Dindo系统进行分级。比较各组患者之间出现喉返神经损伤相关并发症的差异。结果采样组患者5年总生存期(OS)率为66.8%,单侧清扫组88.5%,双侧清扫组93.8%;采样组与单侧清扫组或双侧清扫组之间5年OS率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),单侧清扫组与双侧清扫组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。各组之间并发症发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论对于T1N0M0期的食管鳞癌患者,术中对双侧喉返神经旁淋巴结应尽可能清扫,有利于提高患者术后5年生存率。     

Transhiatal esophagectomy for treatment of benign and malignant esophageal disease

Since our initial 1978 report, we have performed transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) in 1085 patients with intrathoracic esophageal disease: 285 (26%) benign lesions and 800 (74%) malignant lesions (4.5% upper, 22% middle, and 73.5% lower third/cardia). THE was possible in 97% of patients in whom it was attempted; reconstruction was performed at the same operation in all but six patients. The esophageal substitute was positioned in the original esophageal bed in 98%, stomach being used in 782 patients (96%) and colon in those with a prior gastric resection. Hospital mortality was 4%, with three deaths due to uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage. Major complications included anastomotic leak (13%), atelectasis/pneumonia prolonging hospitalization (2%), recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, chylothorax, and tracheal laceration (< 1% each). There were five reoperations for mediastinal bleeding within 24 hours of THE. Intraoperative blood loss averaged 689 ml. Altogether, 78% of the patients had no postoperative complications. Actuarial survival of the cancer patients mirrors that reported after transthoracic esophagectomy. Late functional results are good or excellent in 80%. Approximately 50% have required one or more anastomotic dilatations. With intensive preadmission pulmonary and physical conditioning, use of a side-to-side staple technique (which has reduced the cervical esophagogastric anastomotic leak rate to less than 3%), and postoperative epidural anesthesia, the need for an intensive care unit stay has been eliminated and the length of hospital stay was reduced to 7 days. We concluded that THE can be achieved in most patients requiring esophageal resection for benign and malignant disease and with greater safety and less morbidity than the traditional transthoracic approaches.