The results of surgery as first treatment for oesophageal cancer - A hospital based prospective study

Abstract

A prospective study of 113 patients with oesophageal cancer admitted consecutively to a general hospital was undertaken. Protocols for management were not enforced. 52 of 113 patients were treated surgically. Operative mortality was 2.5% in a group of 40 operated on by one team of surgeons, but 25% in a group of 12 treated by a variety of surgeons. An Ivor Lewis type of operation was used with oesophageal anastomosis above the azygous vein. 48 of 52 patients had a resection. 12 of these patients survived 5 years. Of all the resected patients the node negative group had a median survival of 24 months compared with 14 months for the node positive group (P = 0.0385). Where a complete resection ..