Yet another opinion re esophagectomy and the colon substitute too

[Guest guest]

I was seen by the Chief of Thoracic surgery at NY Presbyterian today.

He is the 'boss' of the thoracic surgeon I saw three weeks ago in NYC.

He is considering either a transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy.

He must give some thought as to the best approach. In my case the

minimally invasive E-ectomy is not a good idea. He explained that the

E-ectomy is considered for those with a narrow, small esophagus and

mine is very enlarged and sigmoid. He also explained that I would not

be losing 1/3 of my stomach as I had assumed. Cancer patients have more

of the stomach with lymph nods removed. He said that dumping syndrome

( a common complication of esophagectomy) is caused by the removal of

the vagus nerve ( a consequence of removing the esophagus). He also

says my case warrants having two senior surgeons and would work with

doc #1 in any case so if I went the NY PResby both of the doctors would

be doing the operation. He had interesting info re colon as

replacement. He does use this method and says it works very well, is

actually a better fit at the throat than the stomach and leads to fewer

problems with narrowing passage needing dilatation. There are also less

problems with reflux when the colon replaces the E. By the way, can

anyone tell me what kind of surgery Cameron had. He sounds like he's

had a very tough time.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the update.... good luck with your other appts too! Keep us posted.

Debbi in Michigan

Yet another opinion re esophagectomy and the colon substitute too

I was seen by the Chief of Thoracic surgery at NY Presbyterian today. He is the 'boss' of the thoracic surgeon I saw three weeks ago in NYC. He is considering either a transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy. He must give some thought as to the best approach. In my case the minimally invasive E-ectomy is not a good idea. He explained that the E-ectomy is considered for those with a narrow, small esophagus and mine is very enlarged and sigmoid. He also explained that I would not be losing 1/3 of my stomach as I had assumed. Cancer patients have more of the stomach with lymph nods removed. He said that dumping syndrome ( a common complication of esophagectomy) is caused by the removal of the vagus nerve ( a consequence of removing the esophagus). He also says my case warrants having two senior surgeons and would work with doc #1 in any case so if I went the NY PResby both of the doctors would be doing the operation. He had interesting info re colon as replacement. He does use this method and says it works very well, is actually a better fit at the throat than the stomach and leads to fewer problems with narrowing passage needing dilatation. There are also less problems with reflux when the colon replaces the E. By the way, can anyone tell me what kind of surgery Cameron had. He sounds like he's had a very tough time.

[Guest guest]

Hello Carole:

Just an aside ... Dr. Luketich is also the chief of Thorasic Surgery

here in Pittsburgh. You are only seeing the top guys!!!

By the time you are ready to decide, you will have more info than the

doctors.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

Kathie in Pittsburgh

> I was seen by the Chief of Thoracic surgery at NY Presbyterian today.

>>