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Effect on Pulmonary Function after Different Procedures of Esophagectomy for Upper Esophageal Carcinoma

Abstract: Objective To explore the protection of pulmonary function by shortening the thoracic opening time inesophagectomy of esophageal carcinoma. Methods A retrospective review of the postoperative pulmonary function of 54 patients with upper esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy with triple incisions in Tongji Hospital from January 2007 to April 2010 was conducted. The patients were divided into two groups. Twentyeight patients including 25 males and 3 females aged at 58.9±8.2 years were in in the classic procedure group, accepting classical esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, there were 26 patients with squamous carcinoma and 2 with adenocarcinoma. Twentysix patients including 22 males and 4 females aged at 54.7±9.4 years were in the improved procedure group, accepting improved esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, 25 patients had squamous carcinoma and 1 had adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the difference of the thoracic opening time, onelung ventilation time during the operation, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide differential pressure(PaCO2), pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2), postoperative mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, postoperative oxygen support days, postoperative inhospital days, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and respiratory failure between the two groups. Results There was a statistical difference between the two groups in thoracic opening time (4.7±1.2 hours versus 2.6±0.8 hours, t=7.51, Plt;0.05) and onelung ventilation time (3.7±15 hours versus 23±0.8 hours, t=4.23, Plt;0.05). The PaO2 and SpO2 on the 1st day and the 3rd day after operation were significantly lower than those before operation in both the classic procedure group (on the 1st day after [CM(159mm]operation, PaO2: F=516.03, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=129.63, Plt;0.05; on the 3rdday after operation, PaO2: F=213.99, Plt;005; SpO2: F=61.84, Plt;0.05) and the improved procedure group (on the 1st day after operation, PaO2: F=423.56, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=184.24, Plt;0.05; on the 3st day after operation, PaO2: F=136.78, Plt;0.05). On the 1st day after operation, PaO2 and SpO2 in the improved procedure group were significantly higher than those in the classic procedure group (F=36.20, Plt;0.05; F=93.42, Plt;0.05), while PaCO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly lower than that in the classic procedure group (F=155.49, Plt;0.05). On the 3rd day after operation, PaO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly higher than that in the classic procedure group (F=29.23, Plt;0.05). The postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay time in the improved procedure group were significantly shorter than those in the classic procedure group (t=3.81, P=0.00; t=4.65, Plt;0.05). Conclusion Improved esophagectomy of carcinoma with triple incision approach can significantly shorten the thoracic opening time and onelung ventilation time during operation, which plays a good role in protecting pulmonary function and lowering the incidence of pulmonary complications.