[Total esophagectomy by stripping without thoracotomy in cancer of the pharynx, esophagus and cardia. 34 cases].

Total oesophagectomy by stripping without thoracotomy was performed in 34 cancer patients to reduce operative mortality and morbidity in those with impaired respiratory function. The carcinoma was located in the pharynx in 20 cases, on the cardia in 9 cases and on the lower oesophagus in 5 cases. Reconstruction in the posterior mediastinum was effected with the descending colon in 32 patients. The operative mortality rate was 11.8% and fistulization developed in 20.6% of the cases. Eight patients (26.5%) required post-operative endoscopic dilatation. Ninety per 100 of the patients who survived surgery resumed satisfactory feeding. Thus, these patients with high operative risk who underwent oesophagectomy by stripping without thoracotomy benefited from tumoral excision and normal feeding with results comparable to those of other types of oesophagectomy.