375. ROLE OF RECURRENTIAL LYMPHADENECTOMY BY MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACH IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract Background Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumor, which is normally diagnosed in more advanced stages. The anatomical characteristics of the esophagus allow rapid spread to neighboring structures, and the extensive lymphatic drainage network facilitates tumor spread even in early stages. Lymphatic spread is the single most important prognostic factor and is a good predictor of disease-free survival. The objective of this study is to present the esophageal neoplasms operated in our center in which we have performed a recurrent lymphadenectomy, describing the postoperative complications, the presence of lymph node metastases and their influence on the evolutionary course of the disease. Methods Retrospective, observational, descriptive and analytical study in which all patients operated on for esophageal neoplasia from January 2019 to January 2024 are included. All patients have been operated on by the same surgical team specialized in esophagogastric surgery. Quantitative variables are described as mean and standard deviation, and qualitative variables are described as absolute number and percentage. The univariate methods used are Pearson's X2 or Student's t for independent samples. A logistic regression has also been performed to study factors that influence in survival. The IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program was used to analyze the data. Results 89 patients have been operated on, 70 three-stage esophagectomies and 16 two-stage. In 60,6% cases it was adenocarcinoma and 33,7% squamous cell histology. Recurrent lymphadenectomy was performed in all of them, 31 expanded and 58 total. 6 patients with recurrent lymph nodes affected, 2 on the right side, 3 on the left and 1 bilateral. 15% patients with tumors >T2 presented recurrent affected lymph nodes, increasing to 20% in adenocarcinomas. 20 recurrent nerve injuries, all of them transient except 3. Statistically significant relationship has been found between the number of affected lymph nodes and disease-free survival time (p = 0.045). Conclusion Mediastinal and recurrent lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer influences in the number of positive nodes obtained after surgery. This could determine a more advanced staging of the disease, which allows adaptation of the adjuvant treatment, influencing in the time free of disease. Most injuries caused by this type of lymphadenectomy can be managed with conservative treatment.