Management of Pleural Effusion After Mediastinoscopic Radical Esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Trans-hiatal and -cervical approach mediastinoscopic radical esophagectomy (TMrE) for esophageal cancers is a less-invasive procedure and does not require for trans-thoracic approach management. However, some patients suffer from pleural effusion after TMrE. In the present study, we investigated the clinicopathological factors of patients needing drainage of pleural effusion (DPE) after TMrE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 118 patients who underwent TMrE between 2010 and 2016.

RESULTS: There were 43, 34 and 41 patients that underwent none, a single, and two or more DPEs respectively. Left-side DPE was significantly more frequent compared to right-side DPE. Change in the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels after surgery was significantly higher in patients with multiple DPEs than patients with none or a single DPE. The hospitalization days were significantly longer for patients with multiple DPEs.

CONCLUSION: Pleural effusion accumulates due to continuous inflammation. Although a temporary DPE is sometimes performed, post-operative chest drainage tubes are not necessarily needed.