Impact of splenectomy on surgical outcome in patients with cancer of the distal esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction

We aim to determine the effect of splenectomy on clinical outcome in patients with cancer of the distal esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) after a curative intended resection. From January 1991 to July 2004, 210 patients underwent a potentially curative gastroesophageal resection with an extended nodal dissection. The study group was divided into: group I with splenectomy, consisting of 66 patients (31.4%), and group II without splenectomy, of 144 patients. Splenectomy was performed for oncological reasons. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Postoperative complications occurred in 27 patients (40.9%) in group I and in 68 patients (47.2%) in group II (P = 0.4). The overall mortality was not significantly different between both groups (P = 0.7). There was a higher administration of red blood cells during surgery (P