ESOPHAGEAL-CARCINOMA - FACTORS INFLUENCIN G MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY

Objetive: To identify which perioperative risk factors are associated to postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. Design: We analyzed 8 perioperative risk factors: age, preoperative hospital stay, intraoperative blood transfusions, tumor stage, histology, grade of tumor differentiation, prior respiratory di sease, surgical treatment. Patients: Forty-six patients with esophagea l carcinoma who underwent surgical resection. Results: 1) Morbidity: T here was statistical significance between the increase in postoperativ e morbidity and age > 75 years (p < 0.001), advanced stage of disease (p < 0.001), preoperative hospital stay higher than 20 days (p < 0.05) and severe respiratory disease (p < 0.05). 2) Mortality: There was a statistically significant increase in postoperative mortality in patie nts with preoperative hospital stay higher than 20 days and in patient s > 75 years. Conclusions: The incidence of postoperative morbidity an d mortality in esophageal cancer varies according to age, prior respir atory disease, tumor stage and preoperative hospital stay.