Transhiatal oesophagectomy: a single unit study

ABSTRACT

Background: Oesophageal cancer is a common gastrointestinal malignancy in our country and transhiatal oesopahgectomy is popular choice of surgery for lower oesophageal cancers. This study aims at identifying the feasibility and effectiveness of this surgery in our setting.Methods: This prospective study was performed in Department of Surgery, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, India. It included a total of 10 cases operated during the study period. Various pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative parameters were observed and results tabulated.Results: In our study dysphagia (90%) was the most common presenting complaint and tobacco, either smoked (40%) or chewed (40%) formed a common risk factor. Lower oesophageal growths (80%) were more common than mid oesophageal (20%). The preferred incision was midline (80%) and average duration of surgery was 351min and average blood loss was estimated to be 521 ml. There was one mortality and a R0 resection in 90% of the cases with 10% positive for local lymphnodal malignant spread.Conclusions: Our statistics are not very different to the studies compared, and we believe they will only improve. We propose transhiatal oesophagectomy to be a practical and affective tool in a surgeon’s armamentarium, which certainly can be a formidable treatment modality in sub-carinal oesophageal cancer.