[Prognostically unfavorable factors in esophagus cancer. III. Operative therapy of esophagus cancer--effect of preoperative measures on prognosis in curative resection].

Between 1969 and 1982, 121 patients were treated for esophageal carcinoma at the Department of Surgery, Landeskrankenhaus Klagenfurt. 38 patients (31.4%) had palliative surgery, 23 patients underwent a curative resection. Hospital mortality after resection was 39%, overall adjusted survival rate at 7 years was 11.2%. An analysis of data shows that a higher resection rate (p = 0.0045) will not improve long-term results. A preoperative parenteral nutrition seems to decrease postoperative mortality (p = 0.069). Preoperative radiotherapy does not improve long-term results (p = 0.788).