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Background: Previous studies have shown that postoperative adverse events after colorectal resection predict a poor prognosis with early cancer relapse. The aim of this study was to report the outcome of patients undergoing esophagogastric resection to assess the influence of in-hospital factors on longterm cancer survival.
Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing esophagogastric resection for carcinoma during the years 2006-2010 at our institution. Minimum follow-up of 12 months was required.
Results: The study population was 164 patients (110 male) of median age 64 years (range 32-84). 84 underwent esophagectomy, 80 gastrectomy. Ninety-nine received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The 90-day, 1-year and 3-year survivals were 92%, 84% and 49% respectively. Sixty-nine patients (42%) developed postoperative complications (commonest: pneumonia 19%, anastomotic leak 7%, wound infection 6%). None of tumor site (esophagus vs. stomach, p=0.73), length of ITU stay (<3 days vs. >3 days, p=0.50) or development of postoperative complications (p=0.70) influenced longterm prognosis. The only two factors that influenced longterm outcome were UICC stage (p<0.001) and circumferential resection margin (positive vs. negative, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Patients experiencing postoperative morbidity can expect the same longterm oncologic outcome as those not suffering these early setbacks.