Abstract

Surgery of œsophagus carcinoma is a long and major procedure. Perioperative radiochemotherapy is often required. Therefore many factors favour the occurrence of local and general postoperative infection, justifying an antibiotic prophylaxis directed against oropharyngeal, œsophageal and gastric flora. In case of œsophageal stenosis, the œsophageal floral often switches to the fecal type. Antimicrobial agents diffuse to the surgical site and reach there high concentrations for the time of surgery. We recommend, just prior the induction of anaesthesia the intravenous administration of a single dose of a third generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone 2 g) and nitroimidazole (ornidazole 1 g). The long half-life of these agents allows sufficient concentrations at surgical site to be obtained and the efficacy of this regimen has been demonstrated. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract with systemic antibiotherapy is another approach for the prevention of postoperative complications of surgery of œsophagus carcinoma.

Full Text
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