Salvage esophagectomy for recurrent tumors after definitive chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Methods: We reviewed our experience with salvage esophagectomy from 1987 to 2000 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (n = 13, salvage after chemotherapy and radiotherapy group) and compared the data with those of patients receiving esophagectomy in a planned fashion 4 to 6 weeks after preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy (n = 99, preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy group).
Results: Increases in morbidity were seen after resection in the salvage after chemotherapy and radiotherapy group relative to the preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy group: mechanical ventilation (9.0 days vs 3.3 days, P = .08), intensive care unit stay (11.2 days vs 5.1 days, P = .07), hospital stay (29.4 days vs 18.4 days, P = .03), and anastomotic leak rates (5/13 [39%] vs 7/99 [7%], P = .005). Operative mortality (within 30 days) also tended to be increased statistically nonsignificantly (2/13 [15%] vs 6/99 [6%], P = .2). Salvage esophagectomy resulted
Conclusion: Patients who undergo salvage esophagectomy for relapse of tumor after definitive chemoradiation therapy have increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital use relative to patients undergoing planned esophagectomy after preoperative chemoradiation. Nevertheless,
