OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a influência do tratamento neoadjuvante (quimioterápico e/ou radioterápico) nas complicações pós-operatórias e letalidade hospitalar de pacientes com câncer de esôfago submetidos a esofagectomia com linfadenectomia em dois campos. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 132 pacientes com câncer de esôfago admitidos no Departamento de Cirurgia do Hospital Erasto Gaertner de janeiro de 1987 a janeiro de 1998, divididos de acordo com a realização ou não de tratamento neoadjuvante. Analisaram-se as variáveis relativas ao paciente (sexo, idade, estado geral, perda ponderal, co-morbidades, tabagismo, risco pulmonar), ao tumor (tipo histológico, localização, estádio clínico) e ao procedimento cirúrgico (local e tipo da anastomose, tempo cirúrgico, tempo de permanência hospitalar), relacionando-as com as complicações e mortalidade pós-operatórias. RESULTADOS: Noventa e quatro pacientes (71,2%) eram do sexo masculino. O tipo histológico predominante foi o CEC em 94,7% e oito pacientes (66,6%) eram tabagistas, e as principais co-morbidades anotadas foram: DPOC (29,55%) e HAS (15,15%). A principal localização do tumor foi o segmento torácico inferior (56,06%), com extensão tumoral média de 47,72 (8-70) mm. Seis pacientes (4,54%) eram EC I, 44 (33,33%) IIA, 24 (18,18%) IIB, 38 (28,80%) III e 17 (12,90%) IV. Quanto ao tratamento neoadjuvante, 39 pacientes (29,54%) foram submetidos a quimioterapia e 22 (16,67%) a radioterapia. As complicações pós-operatórias foram de 74,35% (p=0,0002) e 72,73% (p=0,0037), respectivamente. A taxa de complicações foi de 39,3% e a letalidade hospitalar 13,70%, representadas mais freqüentemente pelas causas pleuropulmonares. CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento neoadjuvante quimioterápico e radioterápico foi relacionado com maior ocorrência de complicações pós-operatórias, sem influência na letalidade hospitalar.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of neoadjuvant treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) on postoperative complications and hospital lethality in patients with esophageal cancer submitted to esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Retrospective study of 132 patients with esophageal cancer admitted in Department of Surgery in Erasto Gaertner Hospital, from January 1987 to January 1998, divided according to realization of neoadjuvant treatment or not. Variables related to patient (sex, age, general condition, ponderal loss, co-morbidities, tabagism), to tumor (histological type, localization, staging) and to surgical procedure (type and localization of anastomosis, surgical time, hospitalization time) were noted and related to postoperative complications and mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (71.2%) were of male sex. The predominant histological type was squamous cell carcinoma in 94.7% of the cases. Eighty-eight patients (66.6%) were smokers, and the main co-morbidities noted were: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (29.55%) and arterial hypertension (15.15%). The main localization of the tumor was inferior thoracic segment (56.06%), with average tumoral extension of 47,72 (8-70) mm. Six patients (4.54%) were stage I, 44 (33.33%) IIA, 24 (18.18%) IIB, 38 (28.80%) III and 17 (12.90%) IV. Considering the neoadjuvant treatment, 39 patients (29.54%) were submitted to chemotherapy and 22 (16.67%) to radiotherapy. The postoperative complications were 74.35% (p=0.0002) and 72.73% (p=0.0037), respectively. The complication rate was 39.3% and hospital lethality 13.70%, represented more frequently by pleuropulmonar causes. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapic and radiotherapeutic treatments were related to superior occurrence of postoperative complications, without influence on hospital lethality.