Postoperative Complications After Transthoracic Esophagectomy for Cancer of the Esophagus and Gastroesophageal Junction Are Correlated With Early Cancer Recurrence

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term HR-QoL in patients undergoing transhiatal versus transthoracic esophagectomy in a tertiary referral center. Background & Methods Treatment of esophageal cancers is challenging. Besides (neo)adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy different surgical approaches are possible such as transhiatal (THE) or transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) with a cervical or intrathoracic anastomosis. Studies have been performed to establish evidence which is the preferred procedure in terms of postoperative morbidity, survival and short- and long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). All patients after THE or TTE for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma performed between 2003 and 2016 received EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-OG25 questionnaires. All questionnaires with a follow-up of more than two years after surgery were analysed. Three HR-QoL domains were chosen as primary endpoints: problems with eating, reflux and nausea and vomiting. The secondary endpoints were the remaining HR-QoL domains, postoperative complications and pathology results. The results were corrected for possible confounders such as age and gender. Results The questionnaire response rate was 47.6%, with 56 patients in the THE group and 134 in the TTE group. The mean age was 63.5 years and a median follow-up of 3.7 years (range 24-137 months) was reached. No significant difference was found in any of the HR-QoL domains or postoperative complications between the two groups. Significantly more lymph nodes were resected in the TTE group (p<0.001). No difference was found in the lymph node metastases or radicality of surgery between the two groups. Conclusion After a long follow-up of more than two years no differences in HR-QoL or postoperative complications were found between patients with distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma undergoing THE or TTE esophagectomy. Based on this study we conclude that long-term quality of life should not influence the decision making for surgical approach between THE and TTE esophagectomy.

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LYMPHOCYTE COUNT AND PLATELET VOLUME PREDICTS POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR CANCER: A COHORT STUDY

Arquivos de Gastroenterologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-2803.201900000-70 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 377-385 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francisco TUSTUMI ◽

Flávio Roberto TAKEDA ◽

Antonio Adolfo Guerra Soares BRANDÃO ◽

Rubens Antonio Aissar SALLUM ◽

Ulysses RIBEIRO JUNIOR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postoperative Complications ◽

Blood Count ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy ◽

Postoperative Mortality ◽

Platelet Volume ◽

Curative Intent ◽

Trimodal Therapy ◽

Esophagectomy For Cancer ◽

Cellular Components

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Biomarkers from routine complete blood count are known predictive factors of long-term outcomes in cancer patients. The value of these biomarkers in the setting of trimodal therapy for esophageal cancer in predicting early postoperative outcomes is not studied. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the value of cellular blood components changes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by curative intent esophagectomy for cancer in predicting postoperative mortality and morbidity. METHODS: A cohort of 149 consecutive patients that underwent chemoradiotherapy using platinum- and taxane-based regimens followed by esophagectomy was analyzed. Cellular components of blood collected before neoadjuvant therapy (period A) and before surgery (period B) were assessed for postoperative mortality and complications. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to evaluate the independent prognostic significance of blood count variables. RESULTS: Postoperative morbidity was present in 46% of the patients. On multiple regression analysis platelet volume (B) (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.2-2.33) was an independent predictor of general complications. Severe postoperative surgical complications were present in 17% of the patients. On multiple regression analysis, lymphocyte decrease between B-A periods (OR: 0.992; 95% CI: 0.990-0.997) was related to higher risk for severe complications. Cervical anastomotic leakage was present in 25.6% of the patients. On univariate analysis eosinophil count in A and B periods was related to cervical anastomotic leakage. For this outcome, multivariate joint model could not identify independent risk variables of cellular components of blood. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.4%. On univariate analysis, platelet count in period B was associated to higher risk for mortality. The multivariate joint model could not accurately predict mortality due to the few number of patients in the mortality group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to assess the relationship between peripheral blood count variables changes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using a platinum- and taxane-based regimen followed by curative intent esophagectomy for cancer in predicting postoperative complications. The platelet volume prior to surgery is related to postoperative complications and the lymphocyte count change prior to surgery predicts severe postoperative complications in the setting of trimodal therapy for esophageal cancer.

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The Value of Paratracheal Lymphadenectomy in Esophagectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Annals of Surgical Oncology ◽

10.1245/s10434-021-10810-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amaia Gantxegi ◽

B. Feike Kingma ◽

Jelle P. Ruurda ◽

Grard A. P. Nieuwenhuijzen ◽

Misha D. P. Luyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Lymph Node ◽

Lymph Node Metastases ◽

Mediastinal Lymph Node ◽

Gastroesophageal Junction ◽

Transthoracic Esophagectomy ◽

Mediastinal Lymphadenectomy ◽

Node Metastases ◽

Upper Mediastinum ◽

Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastases

Abstract Background The role of upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas remains a matter of debate. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of evidence on the incidence of nodal metastases in the upper mediastinum following transthoracic esophagectomy for distal esophageal or GEJ adenocarcinoma. Methods A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases up to November 2020 to include studies on patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy for distal esophageal and/or GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoint was the incidence of metastatic nodes in the upper mediastinum based on pathological examination. Secondary endpoints were the definition of upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy rate and survival. Results A total of 17 studies were included and the sample sizes ranged from 10-634 patients. Overall, the median incidence of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases was 10.0% (IQR 4.7-16.7). The incidences of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases were 8.3% in the 7 studies that included patients undergoing primary resection (IQR 2.0-16.6), 4,4% in the 1 study that provided neoadjuvant therapy to the full cohort, and 10.6% in the 9 studies that included patients undergoing esophagectomy either with or without neoadjuvant therapy (IQR 8.9-15.8%). Data on survival and RLN palsy rates were scarce and inconclusive. Conclusions The incidence of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases in distal esophageal adenocarcinoma is up to 10%. Morbidity should be weighed against potential impact on survival.

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