Oesophagogastrectomy in the treatment of malignancy of the thoracic oesophagus and cardia

Abstract

Of 452 patients suffering from malignancy of the thoracic oesophagus and cardia of the stomach, 381 were treated by oesophagogastrectomy. The need for early diagnosis is stressed in that palliation is all that can be achieved by this method of treatment in most cases, but palliative resection appears to offer the patient a better chance of survival and a more satisfactory relief of his distressing symptoms than palliative intubation. The hospital mortality has been relatively high. However, surgical experience, improved anaesthetic technique and the recent establishment of postoperative intensive cure facilities have resulted in a marked decrease in this mortality, while still maintaining a high resection rate. The causes of death and pathology encountered are also discussed.