Surgical treatment of cancer of the thoracic esophagus.

Out of 209 patients with cancer of the esophagus and cardia, 85 underwent tumoral resection. The approach for cancer of the middle third of the esophagus was changed from the classic right posterolateral thoracotomy with laparotomy to right anterior thoracotomy with laparotomy, which permits two surgical teams to work simultaneously. The postoperative mortality rate was 20.2%, the anastomotic leakage 12.9% and pulmonary complications 20.1%.