Is it serious to have the entire esophagus removed for esophageal cancer?

Is it serious to have the entire esophagus removed for esophageal cancer?

1. Esophageal cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the esophagus. Resection of the esophagus is a serious disease.

2. Esophageal cancer is a serious disease. For early esophageal cancer, if it is only a small area of ​​cancer in the esophageal mucosa, with a diameter of less than 2 cm and limited to the mucosa, endoscopic mucosal dissection or resection of the local lesion can be performed. If the tumor penetrates deeply into the submucosal layer or metastasizes to the lymph nodes, total esophagectomy is required through surgery, followed by local radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

3. After all the esophagus is removed, the esophagus needs to be reconstructed, and the stomach is transformed into a cylinder and lifted up to the chest to replace the original esophagus. If the stomach cannot be used, some of the patient's large intestine will be removed and an esophagus will be built in the chest, which may cause the patient's digestive function to decline. Due to the narrow suture site of the esophagus, patients usually have difficulty swallowing after surgery. At the same time, the esophagus is close to the lung trachea. After surgery, it may cause a decline in lung function and even damage the laryngeal nerves, leading to loss of vocal cord function.

4. Patients should fast for 5-7 days after surgery, and then gradually transition from liquid food such as sugar water, soy milk, rice soup to semi-liquid food. Pay attention to eating small meals frequently, and avoid overheated, hard or irritating food to avoid affecting the recovery of digestive function.