Do both! Rapid recovery after new double endoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer

According to statistics, in recent years, the mortality rate of esophageal cancer has increased by 27.5%, ranking eighth among the major cancers. In the early stage, esophageal cancer can be treated by surgery, but patients with traditional surgery have to face the risk of "laparotomy". However, the new "double endoscopic surgery" has been able to achieve less trauma, faster recovery, and greatly reduce the risk of infection and complications.

Liking a heavy-flavored diet, coupled with drinking hard liquor and chewing betel nut, are all high-risk factors for esophageal cancer. Huang Wenjie, director of thoracic surgery department of MacKay Memorial Hospital, said that esophageal cancer is common in the elderly aged 50-70, and the incidence rate of male is three times that of female. Patients with esophageal cancer often have difficulty swallowing because the diameter of esophagus is affected by tumor obstruction. Whether they eat solid food or liquid food, they always feel "Kaka". China people's eating habits are mainly hot food and heavy taste, plus drinking hard liquor and chewing betel nut, which are all high risk factors for esophageal cancer.

In the past, when patients with esophageal cancer were evaluated to be able to be treated by surgery, doctors had to cut a wound about 30 cm long in the chest and 20 cm long in the abdomen to remove the organs affected by the tumor. The patient had to undergo a major operation of "laparotomy", which led to a prolonged recovery period after operation, with an average of about 3 to 4 weeks before eating normally. Deciding the discharge time according to the recovery situation not only brings great physical and mental pressure to patients and their families, but also easily leads to the possibility of postoperative infection complications.

With the trend of health examination becoming stronger and stronger, more and more patients find that the lesions are earlier than zero or the first stage through health examination. A 40-year-old man found early esophageal cancer through routine physical examination and gastroesophageal endoscopy. Fortunately, he was treated in time and was discharged 12 days after operation. He is in good condition after his recovery.

Dr. Huang Wenjie said that the new double endoscopic surgery was carried out by the cooperation of thoracic surgeons and general surgeons. Nine small holes with a diameter of about 1cm were made in the chest and abdomen of the patient. Thoracic surgeons perform esophagectomy and lymphatic clearance through thoracoscope, then general surgeons reconstruct gastric tubes through laparoscopy, and then hand them over to thoracic surgeons for cervical esophagogastrostomy. The operation time is about 5-6 hours.

Cai Chongxin, the attending physician of general surgery at MacKay Memorial Hospital, said that after double endoscopic surgery to remove esophageal lesions, the stomach was elongated and connected with the anterior esophagus. The cooperation between the two doctors not only enhances the efficiency of esophageal cancer surgery, but also reduces the wound area, reduces the amount of bleeding and greatly reduces the risk of infection and complications. Patients' postoperative discomfort is also reduced, and their recovery speed is much faster. Patients can eat porridge about 10 days after operation, and can be discharged from hospital within an average of two weeks. In the past two months, MacKay Memorial Hospital successfully rescued more than 10 patients with esophageal cancer through double endoscopic surgery.