The Akiyama procedure in the surgical management of oesophageal cardiacarcinoma.

Currently subtotal oesophagogastrectomy with reconstruction of the digestive tract by use of a gastric tube appears to be the treatment of choice in patients with a carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus and gastroesophageal junction. The results of 96 patients with a clinically operable oesophageal-cardiacarcinoma operated upon between 1977 and 1983 are reviewed. Resection intended for cure could be performed in 57 patients (59.4%). Twenty-five patients underwent a 'standard' Ivor Lewis procedure with an intrathoracic anastomosis, whereas in twenty-one patients the Akiyama technique with a retrosternal gastric tube and cervical oesphagogastrostomy was accomplished. There was a great shift in stage-grouping from cTNM to pTNM. The major causes of mortality after oesophageal resection were respiratory and cardiac insufficiency (87% respectively 40% of the deaths) and sepsis from a mediastinitis caused by an intrathoracic anastomotic leak (20%). The postoperative mortality rate was similar in both procedures and amounted to 22.8%, but has decreased to 5% during the period 1983 to 1986. The 5-year survival rate for patients undergoing resections intended for cure was 20% as calculated by the actuarial method. There was no significant difference in long-term survival rates between the two resection groups. The late functional results were better in the cases with the Akiyama method, particularly where gastroesophageal reflux is concerned (P less than 0.05).