Design of the EFECTS Trial

Design of the EFECTS Trial, Investigating the Influence of Postoperative Enteral Feeding in Esophageal Cancer paTients on Survival

It is well known that there is a considerable postoperative weight loss in patients undergoing esophageal resection for cancer.

We believe that this weigh loss can be limited by administering postoperative enteral feeding (target: 1000 kCal/ day) via feeding jejunostomy for at least 6 weeks postoperatively.

We hypothesize that patients undergoing esophageal resection for cancer will have a better overall survival with postoperative additional enteral feeding than when on regular oral diet alone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• advanced cT2 N+ or cT3 Nx
• all histology
• GEJ or distal esophageal ACC
• proximal or mid SCC
• curative intent with intention to treat
• no M+
• at least two-field lymphadenectomy
• all access: MIE, left thoraco freno or R thoraco + laparotomy with intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis
• all anastomosis (intrathoracic, cervical)

Exclusion Criteria:

• T4
• R2
• transhiatal
• pt in definitive CRT or rescue resection following definitive CRT
• palliative treatment
• tumours in cervical esophagus
• pharyngeal cancer with gastric pull-up