Esophageal carcinoma

The treatment of esophageal and gastric cancer has improved significantly in recent years. Surgical intervention, usually combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, is the core of the treatment. Improvements in surgical techniques, mostly minimally invasive approaches, together with modern perioperative management, have significantly shortened the length of hospital stays and greatly reduced the burden on patients.

Esophageal cancer

Malignant tumors of the esophagus are becoming increasingly common. They are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and, if necessary, radiation therapy. The complex treatment plans are discussed weekly with the respective specialists in the tumor board after thorough clarification of the tumor spread and the patient’s performance status. All examinations are offered in-house, with endoscopies (gastroscopy), endosonography (ultrasound via the esophagus), and bronchoscopies (examination of the airways) performed by our surgeons themselves.

Even these major operations in the abdomen and chest are usually performed using minimally invasive techniques (i.e., without large incisions, using keyhole surgery). The improved visibility provided by the camera allows tumors to be removed more accurately and lymph nodes to be removed more precisely, with less blood loss. The much smaller incisions cause less pain after the operation; early mobilization, respiratory therapy, and physical therapy lead to a faster recovery.

Gastric carcinoma

Most patients with gastric cancer also benefit from accompanying chemotherapy, but here too, the key point is the operation, which is usually performed using minimally invasive techniques (i.e., without large incisions, using keyhole surgery). In most cases, the entire stomach or a large part of it must be removed, but we always keep the nutritional situation in mind and therefore try to preserve at least part of it. The improved visibility provided by the camera allows tumors to be removed more accurately and lymph nodes to be removed more precisely, with less blood loss. The much smaller incisions cause less pain after the operation; early mobilization, early nutrition, respiratory, and physical therapy lead to a faster recovery.

AEGs

In the case of tumors of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs), the above considerations overlap in terms of function, anatomy, tumor characteristics, and nutrition. Depending on the spread of the tumor, either the upper part of the stomach with its lymph nodes and a small part of the esophagus must be removed (laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction) or a combined two-cavity procedure (abdominal cavity and chest) must be performed. Here, too, the procedure is almost exclusively minimally invasive.