Development of less invasive surgical procedures for thoracic esophageal cancer.

In order to minimize the invasiveness of the operative procedure for thoracic esophageal cancer, several procedures have been introduced since January 1997. They included: (i) perioperative use of steroids; (ii) muscle-sparing thoracotomy without costectomy; (iii) preparation of the gastric tube with preservation of sufficient blood supply; (iv) reconstruction of the alimentary tract via posterior-mediastinal route; and (v) formation of anastomosis between the remaining esophagus and the gastric tube at a location between the gastroepiploic arteries of the gastric greater curvature. Twenty-one patients who did not receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy underwent the newly developed procedure, and were compared with those receiving the original procedure. Hospital mortality was zero, and postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome was suppressed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 21.5 days, and the actuarial 3-year survival rate was 76.2%. From the comparison with those receiving the original procedure, it can be concluded that the newly developed procedures were effective in minimizing surgical invasiveness and were sufficiently curative in terms of cancer treatment.