Clinical observation of modified gastric tube in middle and lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma surgery

BACKGROUND: A clinical case-control study was conducted to analyze the short-term efficacy of modified gastric tube in surgery for middle (mid)- and lower- thoracic esophageal carcinoma compared with the conventional gastric tube and its effect on postoperative pulmonary function. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with mid- and lower-thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy between October 2012 and September 2018 in our hospital were recruited in the study. They were randomly divided into a modified gastric tube group (n = 35) and a conventional gastric tube group (n = 35). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative lymph node dissection, gastrointestinal decompression time and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The operation results and complications were recorded, and the pulmonary function was recorded at 3 days before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The operation time in the modified gastric tube group was significantly lower than that in the gastric tube group (P < 0.05). There were no anastomotic leakage or death occurred in the modified gastric tube group. There was 1 case of anastomotic leakage in the conventional gastric tube group. The pulmonary function in both groups was improved at 6 weeks after surgery, but there was no significant difference between both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modified gastric tube has a good clinical application value compared with gastric tube for patients with mid- and lower-thoracic esophageal cancer. It is easy and safe, and can shorten the operation time without aggravation of pulmonary function after surgery.