The Role of Pre-Assessment in Oesophageal Cancer Surgery

Abstract

National figures for oesophagectomy mortality in the United
Kingdom have been steadily dropping (12% to 9%) since
the late 1990’s.1 More recently, these figures have improved significantly
as shown in the 2016 annual report of the UK National
Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit (NOGCA), revealing a post-oesophagectomy
90-day mortality rate of 3.2%.2 Despite this, surgical
treatment for oesophageal cancer still carries significant morbidity,
often quoted up to 64%.3 While centres of excellence maintain
high standards of surgery and improved surgical techniques, with
minimally invasive techniques potentially reducing physiological
stresses on patients, we are perhaps being less conservative in our
selection of patients for surgery; all having varying influences on
the overall risks.