[Preoperative risk and postoperative follow-up in surgery of esophageal carcinoma].

The risk involved in esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer is related to the general preoperative status of the patient and to the cardiac, pulmonary and hepatic functions. This can be objectively assessed prior to surgery and quantified by a composite risk score. Strict inclusion of the risk score in the preoperative decision-making process resulted in a marked decrease in postoperative mortality at our institution to 1.8%.