PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS OF MORTALITY PRIOR TO SURGERY IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the preoperative prognostic indicators after esophagectomy for oesophageal cancer.
Material and Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study, conducted at the Department of Surgery, Lady
Reading Hospital, Peshawar from 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2008. Group 1 included patients that had
undergone sub-total oesophagectomy & were alive at completion of twelve months; whereas group 2 included those
who died within twelve months. Data was recollected from the Data Bank. A list of variables common to all patients
from both groups were categorized and subsequently all data related to each individual patient was placed and
analyzed on the version 13.0 of SPSS.
Results: Significant findings of a lower mean level of serum albumin from group 2 was observed. Findings of serum
pre-albumin; with a mean value of 16.12mg/dl (p<0.05) and Geansler’s index for the evaluation of presence of
obstructive pulmonary disease prior to surgery showed a lower reading of mean ratio in group 2.
Conclusion: Pre-operative variables including weight loss, low serum albumin & pre-albumin, Geansler’s index, all
are poor prognostic indicators in patients with oesophagectomy for esophageal cancer.