Esophagectomy without thoracotomy for carcinoma of the esophagus.

During the past 2.5 years, 13 patients underwent esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus without the use of a thoracotomy. During the same period, 81 operations on the esophagus or cardia were performed, 73 of which were esophagogastrectomies. Two patients died, for a hospital mortality rate of 2.7 percent. Of the 13 patients, there were 7 women and 6 men with an average age of 59.7 years. The lesion was located in the cervical esophagus in two, the upper thoracic esophagus in eight and the lower esophagus in three. One patient died on the 12th postoperative day, for a hospital mortality rate of 7.7 percent. Satisfactory relief of dysphagia was accomplished in all surviving patients, five of whom have died from the disease, for an average survival of 13.1 months. Seven are currently alive, with the longest period of survival 20.5 months. Esophagectomy without thoracotomy can be carried out with low mortality and morbidity rates. It is most applicable to patients with early lesions, particularly those in the cervical esophagus and the upper thoracic esophagus.