Clinical analysis of severe complications following surgical resection with thoracotomy in 27 patients with esophageal or cardiac carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the main reasons, care methods and preventing managements of severe complications following surgical resection with thoracotomy in esophageal or cardiac cancer patients . Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 784 patients with esophageal or cardiac cancer who were undertaken surgical treatments with thoracotomy in my hospital from. August 1988 to August 2001.569 cases are esophageal carcinoma , while the rest 215 cases are cardiac carcinoma. Results: Complications occurred postoperatively are including, anastomotic fistala in 17 cases,of which 4 patients died; and chylothorax in 10 cases,4 which 2 patients died. Conclusion: Improvements in the technology of esophago-gastrostomy and perioperative managements have significant importance in reducing the occurrence of complications following surgical treatment with thoracotomy in patients with esophageal or cardiac cancer.