TRANSHIATAL ESOPHAGECTOMY - A COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUES IN68 PATIENTS

Over a 7-year period 68 patients with oesophageal carcinoma underwent transhiatal oesophagectomy, utilizing blunt dissection in 42 cases and eversion stripping in 26. The effects of the alternative techniques o n mortality and morbidity have been analysed. There was no significant difference between the two techniques in terms of operative blood los s or time or the number of patients requiring postoperative ventilator y support. Stripping of the oesophagus was associated with significant ly fewer cardiorespiratory complications and a shorter hospital stay. There was no significant difference in either 30-day or 3-month surviv al. Eversion stripping should become the preferred method of oesophage al resection once the primary tumour has been mobilized.