Esophagectomy due to esophagus cancer. Five-year experience at the Hospital Nacional de Itauguá. 2015-2020 period

Abstract

Objective: Reporting the experience of esophagectomies in esophagus cancer patients, in the General Surgery Service at the Itauguá National Hospital, 2015-2020 period.

Methodology: Descriptive, retrospective, transversal study, where clinical files of patients with esophageal neoplasia diagnosis submitted to an esophagectomy were checked at the Itauguá National Hospital, 2015-2020 period.

Results: The study included 18 clinical files. 78% were male, with an average age of 62,6 years old. The average BMI was of 19. The symptoms’ frequence was 86% dysphagia, 83% weight loss and 28% epigastric pain. Squamous carcinoma predominated in 67% over adenocarcinoma. The tumors’ location was most frequently distributed on the third half. 78% of patients were submitted to a total transhiatal esophagectomy by Orrienger’s technique and the rest to transthoracic way by McKeown’s technique. Esophagogastric anastomosis’ complications correspond to 34% and respiratory ones to 28%. Peri-operatory mortality rates were of 17%.

Conclusion: Esophagectomy is still the only healing treatment for esophagus cancer despite its high morbimortality rates. Early diagnosis is important to be able to offer a healing treatment. It’s unfortunate that the studied patients did not have a follow-up, hence objective evaluation of medium- and long-term results is impossible.