OBJECTIVETo investigate the cause and the management of treatment and prevention of reoperation following esophagectomy.

METHODSClinical data of 946 cases with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy from January 2000 to December 2012 by the same surgical team in the Beijing Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 19 patients underwent reoperation after esophagectomy because of serious complications. Clinical features and treatment course of these 19 cases were summarized.

RESULTSThe indications and procedures of reoperation included thoracotomy for hemorrhage (n=4), diaphragmatic hernia repair (n=4), thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax (n= 4), re-suturing for incision dehiscence (n=4), re-laparotomy and re-thoracotomy for drainage of traumatic pancreatitis (n=1), re-laparotomy for intestinal obstruction (n=1), and tracheotomy for bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (n=1). All the 19 patients were successfully cured without perioperative deaths and further complications.

CONCLUSIONSThe indications of reoperation following esophagectomy include postoperative bleeding, diaphragmatic hernia, chylothorax and abdominal incision dehiscence.