Table 1 Patient demographics and clinical characteristics

Age, years, median (range)

68.2 (44–86)

Male sex, %

84.3

BMI, kg/m², median

22.3 (14.1–41.9)

History of cancer

 Yes

24

 No

78

History of surgery

 Yes

36

 No

66

History of alcohol consumption

 Yes

88

 No

14

History of smoking

 Yes

87

 No

15

Brinkman index

612 (0–3040)

 < 600

44

 ≥ 600

58

Thoracic approach

 Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

88

 Open

9

 None: transhiatal

5

Abdominal approach

 HALS

47

 Open

24

 Laparoscopic

31

Lymphadenectomy

 D0

2

 D1

2

 D2

27

 D3

71

Curability

 R0

96

 R1/2

6

Reconstruction

 Gastric tube

66

 Ileocolic

26

 Other

10

Thoracic duct

 Resected

62

 Preserved

40

Reconstruction route

 Retrosternal

88

 Posterior mediastinal

14

Preoperative treatment

 Yes

65

 No

37

Operation time (min)

592 (213–774)

Blood loss (mL)

205 (25–1378)

G3 postoperative complications

 Yes

22

 No

80

cT factor (7th)

 1a/1b

 5 / 31

 2

25

 3

30

 4a/4b

 4 / 7

cN factor (7th)

 0

45

 1

36

 2

19

 3

2

cStage (7th)

 I (IA, IB)

 27 / 11

 II (IIA, IIB)

 5 / 19

 III (IIIA, IIIB, IIIC)

 13 / 9 / 10

 IV

8

p T factor (7th)

 0

6

 1a/1b

 9 / 33

 2

20

 3

27

 4a/4b

 5 / 2

p N factor (7th)

 0

49

 1

28

 2

15

 3

10

p Stage (7th)

 0

3

 I (IA, IB)

32 / 5

 II (IIA, IIB)

 3 / 16

 III (IIIA, IIIB, IIIC)

 19 / 8 / 11

 IV

5

Location of tumor

 Cervical Esophagus

4

 Upper thoracic esophagus

19

 Middle thoracic esophagus

46

 Lower thoracic esophagus

20

 Abdominal esophagus

1

 Esophagogastric junction

12

MAC scale

 Fighting spirit

47.8 (27–60)

 Helpless/ Hopeless

9.2 (6–24)

 Anxious Preoccupation

22.6 (13–32)

 Fatalism

20.2 (8–30)

 Avoidance

1.6 (1–4)

HADS, time 1

 ≤ 10

65

 ≥ 11

37 (36.2%)

HADS, time 2

 ≤ 10

61

 ≥ 11

41 (40.2%)

HADS, time 3

 ≤ 10

54

 ≥ 11

48 (47.1%)

HADS, time 4

 ≤ 10

58

 ≥ 11

44 (43.1%)

HADS, time 5

 ≤ 10

67

 ≥ 11

35 (34.3%)