Approach to transabdominal dissection of lymph nodes in cardiac carcinoma

Objective: To explore the surgical technique in transabdominal dissection of lymph nodes in patients with cardiac carcinoma on the basis of clinicopathological features and the condition of lymphatic metastasis of this disease.Methods: Thirty-eight cases were reviewed on the clinical data and approaches to the surgery during the period of November 2005 and June 2008.Results:Of the 38 cases,26 were males and 12,females,with an average of 62 years old.The region of the carcinoma was seen at the esophagogastric junction,adenocarcinoma by Borrmann′s classification.Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 50 to 200 ml and the operation lasted from 210 to 250 min.Conclusion:In the radical surgery of the cardiac carcinoma,the lymph nodes in group 1～4 and 7～11 must be removed,for well-planned sequential removal of the lymph nodes can reduce the time and cause less injury to the diseased organ.