[Operative methods in adenocarcinoma of the cardia]

Abstract

Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric transition is only incompletely resectable in 40% of cases, if resection with intrathoracic anastomosis is desired. Death-rate of thoraco-abdominal or transthoracic resection is over 40% (in the authors' own series 47%). Survival time of patients is short, some develop a recurrence at the anastomotic site. More radical and carrying a lower postoperative mortality is resection of the tumour with subtotal oesophagectomy without opening the thorax. Anastomosis with the residual stomach is made at the cervical portion of the oesophagus.