Emergency re-operation for postoperative hemorrhage following partial esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus and cardia of the stomach.

The clinical records of 12 cases of emergency re-operation for management of postoperative hemorrhage (POH) following partial esophagectomy and esophago-gastrostomy or colonic interposition for a group of 3690 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus (CE) and cardia of the stomach in this institute between August 1954 and April 2001 were studied. There were 10 survivors and two deaths, giving a mortality rate of 16.6% (2/12). It was concluded that an emergency re-operation was a cardinal surgical procedure to save the patient's life if a serious POH had developed. The POH could be prevented by a careful, conscientious and strict hemostasis during the primary operation. The criteria for the diagnosis are presented.