Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg

Clinical evaluation of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy with CDDP, 5-FU, and VP-16 for advanced esophageal cancer.

Year 1998
Mukaida H. Hirai T. Yamashita Y. Yoshida K. Hihara J. Kuwahara M. Inoue H. Toge T.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy following surgery in patients with advanced esophageal cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We followed the cases of 57 such patients treated at our hospital, involving 19 who received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CR group), 19 who received radiotherapy alone (R group), and 19 who did received neither (N group). In the CR group, chemotherapy, consisting of cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and etoposide (VP-16), was combined with radiotherapy was administered from 4 weeks after surgery. Concurrent radiotherapy was started at 3 weeks after esophagectomy. CDDP at 50 mg/m2 was administered on days 1 and 7.5-FU at 500 mg/m2 and VP-16 at 60 mg/m2 were administered on days 3, 4, and 5. Thirteen patients (68.4%) were treated with more than 2 cycles of chemotherapy combined with radiation. RESULTS: Side-effects of severe anorexia (grade 3) and leukocytopenia (< 1900/microliter) were observed in 47% and 39% of the patients, respectively. However no treatment-related death was observed. The 5-year-survival rate was 25.2%, 18.9%, and 15.8%, in the CR group, R group, and N group, respectively. The recurrence rate was 66.7% in the CR group, which was higher than in the matched control groups (46.2% in the N group and 54.5% in the R group), but with no a significant difference. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy did not contribute to improvement in prognosis for these patients with advanced esophageal cancer.

[A case report of aortoesophageal fistula due to thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm]

Year 1998
Nakayama S. Minami K. Sakaguchi G. Tsuneyoshi H.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Aortoesophageal fistulas due to thoracic aneurysms are usually fatal, with few reported survivors. A 57-year-old man with aortoesophageal fistula due to thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm underwent the graft replacement of thoracoabdominal aorta. In the postoperative course, prosthetic graft infection had occurred in the result of residual esophageal fistula. On the 32nd postoperative day (POD), a subtotal esophagectomy was performed and the esophagus was reconstructed by gastrointestinal interposition technique via a retrosternal route. Following the second operative procedure, inflammatory reactions had been improved with systemic administration of antibiotics and continuous irrigation of the infected cavity. On 77th POD, he was discharged.

The double fold free radial forearm flap for skin large fistule closure after pharyngoesophageal operation.

Year 1998
Yamada T. Endo M. Yamamoto M.
Department of Surgery, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
Reported herein is a case who underwent a one-stage closure of pharyngostome utilizing a double fold free radial forearm flap (FRF) was performed. By use of a thin and large FRF, this operative method permits the closure of a large fistula and thus satisfies cosmetic requirements.

[An analysis of the mechanism of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia following resection of thoracic esophageal cancer in terms of hepatic venous oxygen saturation and excessive systemic reactions]

Year 1998
Saito R. Kitamura M. Minamiya Y. Motoyama S. Saito H.
Second Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hepatic venous oxygen saturation (ShvO2), parameters of systemic circulation and cytokine (Interleukin 6) (IL-6)) level were measured in 21 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer in order to analyze the mechanism of occurrence of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia (PHB). ShvO2 fell during operation, especially during intrathoracic procedures, and a significant correlation was noted between the total time during which ShvO2 was below 60% and the postoperative peak serum bilirubin level (peak-Bil) (r = 0.595, p = 0.0037). Patients with PHB (group H) had worse systemic circulation and a lower oxygen supply postoperatively than patients without PHB (group N). Body weight and water balance recovered earlier in group N. Postoperatively, numbers of peripheral lymphocytes and platelets changed lower in group H, while CRP and IL-6 changed higher in group H. Furthermore, a significant correlation was noted between the IL-6 level just after operation and peak-Bil (r = 0.669, p = 0.0006). These results suggests PHB results from intraoperative liver hypoxia and poor postoperative systemic circulation. Individual severeness of reactions to the operative stress, excessive or adequate, plays a role in the occurrence of PHB as well.