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Objectives: Recent studies have suggested that postoperative complications could have a potential negative effect on long-term outcome after oesophagectomy for cancer. Because respiratory failures represent the most frequent postoperative complication, we have investigated the prognostic impact of these complications on disease-free survival (DFS)., Methods: From a prospective single-institution database of 405 consecutive patients who underwent transthoracic oesophagectomy for cancer, we retrospectively analysed medical charts of all patients with microscopically complete resection (R0, n = 384 patients). Complications were graded according to the modified Clavien classification. Respiratory complications were defined as atelectasis, pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome in the absence of early surgical complications. Patients with grade 5 (postoperative mortality, n = 43, 11%) were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 341 patients were analysed for estimation of DFS according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to discriminate predictive factors affecting DFS., Results: According to the modified Clavien classification, postoperative complications rates were grade 0: 147 (44%), grade 1: 7 (2%), grade 2: 56 (16%), grade 3: 69 (20%) and grade 4: 62 (18%). Five-year DFS rates were not significantly different between grade 0 (no complication, 38%, n = 147) and other grades (grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 (64, 45, 56 and 48%, respectively)). Respiratory complications occurred in 107 patients (31%) and the 5-year DFS in this subgroup was 47% compared with 38% observed in grade 0 patients (P = 0.75). Clavien classification and respiratory complications did not come out in the univariate analysis of factors affecting DFS. On logistic regression, only two variables affected DFS: c-N stage and extracapular lymph node involvement., Conclusions: When postoperative mortality is excluded, postoperative complications do not affect DFS in patients with complete resection. This deserves substantial information regarding the prognosis of subgroup of patients in critical situations where incrementing intensive care is debated.

OBJECTIVES The 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system of oesophageal cancer and gastro-oesophageal junction has re-staged positive nodes into N1–3 according to the number of invaded lymph nodes (LNs). However, this new classification does not consider the potential negative impact of the extracapsular breakthrough on survival. This study aims at assessing prognosis according to whether LN involvement is intracapsular (ICLNI) or extracapsular (ECLNI) on disease-free survival (DFS) among the three sub-groups of LN-positive patients. METHODS Four hundred and sixteen consecutive R0 patients who underwent transthoracic oesophagectomy for cancer between 1996 and 2011 were retrospectively re-classified using the latest AJCC TNM classification. Among them, 230 (55%) patients have received a neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Prognostic impact of ICLNI and ECLNI on DFS was assessed according to their new LN status. Multivariate analysis was drawn to determine factors affecting DFS. RESULTS Among the 416 patients, there were 138 (33%) patients with positive LN: 79 (57%) with ICLNI and 59 (43%) with ECLNI. The proportion of ECLNI was 21 of 73 (28%), 21 of 41 (51%) and 17 of 24 (70%) in N1, N2 and N3 patients, respectively. In N1 patients, median DFS was 48 months in ICLNI and 13 months in ECLNI (P = 0.068). In N2 patients, median DFS was 19 months in ICLNI and 9 months in ECLNI (P = 0.07). In N3 patients, median DFS was not reached in ICLNI and was 6 months in ECLNI (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, the ECLNI (P < 0.001, hazard ratio, HR: 2.51) and the post-T stage (P = 0.03, HR: 1.62) were the two independent factors affecting DFS. CONCLUSIONS Based on our limited study population, the existence of an ECLNI seems to have an additive negative impact on DFS, regardless of the pN stage. This suggests that extracapsular breakthrough status should be added to the new TNM staging system. This information has to be validated by further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]