Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy: initial experience and outcomes

Background: Although surgical resection currently is the preferred treatment for fit patients with resectable esophageal cancers, it is associated with a relatively high risk of morbidity and significant perioperative mortality. Currently, a range of open surgical approaches are used. More recently, minimally invasive approaches have become feasible, with the potential to reduce perioperative morbidity. This study investigated the outcomes from one such approach. Methods: Outcome data were collected prospectively for 36 consecutive patients who underwent a minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. A three-stage approach was used, with all the patients undergoing a thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, combined with either open or hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal gastric mobilization, and open cervical anastomosis. An open abdominal approach was used for 15 of the patients and a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach for 21. A total of 34 patients had invasive malignancy, whereas 2 had preinvasive disease. A group of 23 patients (68%) who had invasive malignancies also received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results: The mean operating time ranged from 190 to 360 min (mean, 263 min). The median postoperative hospital stay was 16 days. In-hospital mortality was 5.5% (2/36), and perioperative morbidity was 41%. The perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing an open abdominal approach and those who had hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery were similar. For the patients who underwent a hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal procedure, the total operating time was shorter (248 vs 281 min), and the blood loss was less (223 vs 440 ml). The median follow-up period was 30 months. The 4-year survival predicted by Kaplan–Meir for the 34 patients with invasive malignancy was 44%. Conclusion: The outcome for esophagectomy using thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, with or without hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal surgery, was comparable with data from conventional open surgical approaches. These approaches can be performed with an acceptable level of perioperative morbidity. Further application of these techniques, with close scrutiny of outcome data, is appropriate.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy

The current roles of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the treatment of cancer in Japan are described. Lymphadenectomy of the same quality as open surgery should be performed thoracoscopically to obtain good oncological outcomes. The indications for thoracoscopic esophagectomy are 1) no extensive pleural adhesions; 2) pulmonary function sufficient for single-lung ventilation; and 3) tumor not invading other organs. Hand-assisted or mini-thoracotomy facilitates the dissection of lymph nodes, especially on the left side of the trachea. However, for any type of procedure, a good en-face view is essential for safe and accurate lymphadenectomy. The magnifying effect of video, with the camera in close proximity, is important to maintain a proper dissecting plane. Although sufficient experience is necessary to master the learning curve, lymphadenectomy of the same quality as open surgery can be performed with mini-thoracotomy in a feasible time period. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy contributes to reducing postoperative pain and constrictive pulmonary dysfunction. It may be too soon to assert that the thoracoscopic approach can provide oncological outcomes comparable to those after open surgery because long-term follow up is not yet sufficient. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy, however, has the potential to improve the postoperative quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy in children

Minimal access surgery is an alternative to open surgery in esophageal resections. Thoracoscopic surgery has been utilized for both benign and malignant esophageal lesions and is a complex and challenging surgical procedure that can provide some benefits in comparison with open thoracotomy. Many studies have described laparoscopic or thoracoscopic-assisted esophagectomy in adults. So far, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study about thoracoscopic esophagectomy in children. This report describes 2 pediatric cases of benign esophageal lesions: one stricture after accidental ingestion of caustic soda and one esophageal stenosis after thyroglossal duct complication. Both patients were submitted to thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with laparotomy and open cervical exploration with success. This procedure presents some potential advantages when compared with open esophagectomy: shorter hospital stay, precise dissection of mediastinal structures, less postoperative pain, less blood loss during surgery and less long-term discomfort. In our cases, thoracoscopic surgery for children showed the same benefits as in adults. Although very feasible, it should not be attempted without sufficient training and should be carried out only in specialized medical centers and by surgeons with adequate experience with open esophagectomy.     

胸腔镜下食管癌切除术

目的探讨胸腔镜下食管癌切除术的适应证。方法2005年1月～11月，我院行胸腔镜下食管癌切除术11例。其中胸上段食管癌2例，胸中段8例，胸下段1例。T1N0M01例，T2N0M02例，T2N1M01例，T3N0M07例。胸腔镜下经右胸游离胸段食管及肿瘤，清扫胸腔内淋巴结，上腹部正中切口完成胃的游离及清扫腹腔内淋巴结，颈部切口完成食管癌切除胃食管颈部吻合术。结果1例因双腔气管插管失败，1例因胸腔粘连中转开胸，另9例经胸腔镜手术成功。手术时间220～300min，平均265min。术中出血量150～400ml，平均240ml。清扫淋巴结4～10枚，平均6．4枚。术后2～3d拔除胸腔引流管，引流量200～500ml，平均350ml。术后喉返神经损伤1例，术后3个月恢复。11例随访4～15个月，平均8个月，均健在，无肿瘤复发和转移。结论胸腔镜下食管癌切除术主要适用于食管癌临床Ⅰ期及Ⅱ期，肿瘤长度〈5cm，无外侵及纵隔明显肿大淋巴结的患者。     

Thoracoscopic management of chylothorax after esophagectomy

Background  

Chylothorax after esophagectomy is a potentially life-threatening complication, with a reported incidence rate of 1–4%. Two cases of postoperative chylothorax successfully managed thoracoscopically are reported.     

Thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy for cancer treatment

More than 15 years have passed since thoracoscopic surgery was first employed in Japan as a treatment for esophageal cancer with curative intent. Because of the proliferation of techniques that can be used to obtain an adequate operative field, such as hand assist, placing the patient in the prone position, etc., the number of approaches to thoracoscopic surgery has been increasing, contrary to expectations of standardization. The technique of mediastinal dissection has been refined with increasing knowledge of microanatomy, which can be clarified under the magnified view provided in thoracoscopic surgery. Comparable pulmonary function and survival are achieved after both thoracoscopic surgery and open-chest surgery. The accreditation board of the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery is now standardizing the thoracoscopic technique. To avoid surgical mistakes, thorough knowledge and adherence to the proper indications are essential.     

Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for benign and malignant disease: lessons learned from 46 consecutive procedures

BACKGROUND: Transhiatal and transthoracic esophagectomy are common approaches for esophageal resection. The literature is limited regarding the combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach to esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for the treatment of benign and malignant esophageal disease. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective chart review of 46 consecutive minimally invasive esophagectomies performed between August 1998 and September 2002. Indications for esophagectomy were carcinoma (n = 38), Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (n = 3), and recalcitrant stricture (n = 5). Of 38 patients with carcinoma 23 (61%) had neoadjuvant therapy. The main outcome measures were operative time, blood loss, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, conversion rate, morbidity, mortality, pathology, disease recurrence, and survival. RESULTS: Approaches to esophagectomy were thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy (n = 41), thoracoscopic and laparoscopic Ivor Lewis resection (n = 3), abdominal only laparoscopic esophagogastrectomy (n = 1), and hand-assisted laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (n = 1). Minimally invasive esophagectomy was successfully completed in 45 (97.8%) of 46 patients. The mean operative time was 350 +/- 75 minutes and the mean blood loss was 279 +/- 184 mL. The median length of intensive care unit stay was 2 days and median length of stay was 8 days. Major complications occurred in 17.4% of patients and minor complications occurred in 10.8%. Late complications were seen in 26.1% of patients. The overall mortality was 4.3%. Among the 38 patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer the 3-year survival was 57%. In a mean followup of 26 months there was no trocar site or neck wound recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: A thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach to esophagectomy is technically feasible and safe for the treatment of benign and malignant esophageal disease. With a mean followup of 26 months thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy appears to be an oncologically acceptable surgical approach for the treatment of esophageal cancer.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position

Background

Minimally invasive esophageal surgery has arisen in an attempt to reduce the significant complications associated with esophagectomy. Despite proposed technical and physiological advantages, the prone position technique has not been widely adopted. This article reviews the current status of prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed to identify all published clinical studies related to prone esophagectomy. Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords “prone,” “thoracoscopic,” and “esophagectomy” to identify articles published between January 1994 and September 2010. A critical review of these studies is given, and where appropriate the technique is compared to the more traditional minimally invasive technique utilising the left lateral decubitus position.

Results

Twelve articles reporting the outcomes following prone thoracoscopic oesophagectomy were tabulated. These studies were all non-randomised single-centre prospective or retrospective studies of which four compared the technique to traditional minimally invasive surgery. Although prone esophagectomy is demonstrated as being both feasible and safe, there is no convincing evidence that it is superior to other forms of esophageal surgery. Most authors comment that the prone position is associated with superior surgical ergonomics and theoretically offers a number of physiological benefits.

Conclusion

The ideal approach within minimally invasive esophageal surgery continues to be a subject of debate since no single method has produced outstanding results. Further clinical studies are required to see whether ergonomic advantages of the prone position can be translated into improved patient outcomes.     

Thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer has become common in the 10 years after the introduction of the procedure, with advances in instrumentation and techniques. Thoracoscopic surgery is associated with the advantage of preserving pulmonary function and reducing pulmonary complications by reducing chest wall injury and blood loss. Although it cannot be evaluated subjectively, understanding the microanatomy under a magnified view, education through viewing on a monitor, and the ability to reproduce the whole procedure are advantages. However, to perform lymph node dissection as efficiently as in open surgery, substantial learning of the procedure is necessary. To steepen the learning curve, sharing and disclosing knowledge and information are essential, as well as direct instruction and hands-on seminars given by skilled experts.     

Thoracoscopic management of chylothorax complicating esophagectomy

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax is a relatively uncommon complication of esophageal surgery that may lead to severe respiratory, nutritional, and immunologic deficiencies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2000, 3 of 316 patients (0.9%) undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy for carcinoma developed postoperative chylothorax. Two of them had previously been treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and one had been submitted to esophagogastric resection through a left thoracotomy. After a 2-week trial of total parenteral nutrition and drainage, two patients underwent thoracic duct ligation via thoracotomy. In the last patient, the operation was completed by thoracoscopy. The azygos vein and the periaortic tissue above the diaphragm were encircled en bloc by a right-angled clamp, and a roticulating endostapler was applied. RESULTS: Reoperation was successful in all patients. The postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of chylothorax complicating esophagectomy. Given the minimal trauma to the patient, early thoracoscopic reoperation can be advocated in patients with high-output chyle loss in order to reduce the hospital stay.     

胸腹腔镜联合食管癌切除350例临床分析

目的：分析胸腹腔镜联合食管切除术（ TLE ）治疗食管癌的临床效果及学习曲线。方法回顾性分析2008年2月至2013年10月四川大学华西医院胸外科连续行TLE的350例患者临床资料,分析患者的术中及术后情况,评价该术式的临床疗效;根据患者接受TLE手术日期的顺序,将TLE开展的早期阶段150例病例平均分为3组,即TLE 1组、TLE 2组及TLE 3组,每组50例,比较3组间的围手术期指标,以分析该术式的学习曲线。结果全组无术中死亡病例,29例（8．3％）患者出现术中并发症,术中中转手术13例（3．7％,开胸9例、开腹4例）。全组手术时间为230～780（平均332．5） min,术中出血量为15～4000（平均160．8） ml。其中,R0切除333例（95．1％）,清扫淋巴结6～42（平均21．6）枚／例。术后住院时间为7～93（平均11．6） d。术后出现并发症75例（21．4％）,术后30 d内死亡3例（0．8％）。与TLE 1组比较,TLE 2组的手术时间、术中失血量、术后住院时间及术后并发症的发生率明显较低,淋巴结清扫数目明显较多（均P＜0．05）。TLE 3组除手术失血量明显少于TLE 2组外,两组间的其他围手术期指标差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0．05）。结论 TLE在技术上安全可行,且能够达到与传统食管癌手术相同的根治效果,是治疗食管癌的可选手术方式。开展TLE约50例后可基本掌握TLE的手术技巧。     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for intrathoracic esophageal cancer.

Thoracoscopic approaches for esophageal cancer are still disparate. Complete scopic technique is feasible for esophagectomy. Mini-thoracotomy is effective for excellent exposure of the mediastinum for lymph node dissection. The magnifying effect of a video, by keeping the camera in close proximity to the dissection is essential to perform the same quality of dissection as open surgery. The benefit, for respiratory morbidity, remains to be studied in a large number of patients. Minimizing the chest wall injury contributed, to the reduction of constrictive pulmonary damage. Survival after the thoracoscopic approach was favorably compared with open surgery, when extensive lymphadenectomy was performed. Because the efficacy improves with the surgeon's experience, satisfactory outcome will only be obtained in a center performing a sufficient volume of esophageal surgery to provide the surgeon with opportunities to refine his necessary skills. Improvements in technique and instrumentation should make the procedure more accessible and steepen the learning curve.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with mediastinoscopy via the neck

Although thoracoscopic techniques have been introduced to esophageal surgery, the identification of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve and lymph node dissection along the nerve remain quite difficult. A mediastinoscopic technique via the neck enables an excellent visual field to be created in the upper mediastinum, especially near the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, a thoracoscopic esophagectomy combined with this technique allows mediastinal lymph nodes along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve to be easily and safely dissected.     

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Personal experience

BACKGROUND: Esophageal surgery was recently modified by minimally-invasive approach. Personal experience with the thoracoscopic technique for esophagectomy in patients with early stage esophageal cancer is described. METHODS. From 1996 to 2000 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", 10 patients, 7 male and 3 female, underwent video-thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Median age was 64 years (range 53-72). With the patient in left lateral decubitus 4 ports were positioned between the 4th and 8th intercostal space. The thoracic esophagus was mobilized in the entire length and circumference with the connective tissue and peri-esophageal nodal stations. A cervicotomy followed by a median laparotomy for tubulization of the stomach was performed. RESULTS: Nobody required conversion to thoracotomy. No complication or intraoperative death were observed. The median thoracic time was 110 minutes (range 55-165). No death within 30 days after discharge was recorded. One patient presented left vocal cord paralysis. In one case a recurrence in cervical anastomosis two months after the operation was observed. One patient died after 36 month for metastatic spread. Eight patients are alive with no evidence of disease, with median follow-up of 20 months. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the video-toracoscopic approach is a viable and safe option for the treatment of early stage esophageal cancer. Low incidence of complications and local recurrence should encourage a most frequent use of this procedure.     

Robotically assisted laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy

Background Esophagectomy is a technically demanding operation with high procedure-related morbidity and mortality rates. Minimally invasive techniques were introduced in the late 1980s in an effort to decrease the invasiveness of the procedure. Data concerning the use of robotic systems for esophageal cancer are scarce in the literature. The goal of this report is to describe the authors’ early experience using robotically assisted technology to perform transhiatal esophagectomy (RATE). Methods Between September 2001 and May 2004, 18 patients underwent RATE at the authors’ institution. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed. Gender, age, postoperative diagnosis, operative time, conversion rate, blood loss, hospital stay, length of the follow-up period, and complications were assessed. Results At the authors’ institution, 18 patients underwent RATE, including 16 men (89%), with a mean age of 54 years (range, 41–73 years). The RATE procedure was completed for all 18 patients (100%). The mean operative time was 267 ± 71 min, and estimated blood loss was 54 ml (range, 10–150 ml). The mean intensive care unit stay was 1.8 days (range, 1–5 days), and the mean hospital stay was 10 days (range, 4–38 days). A total of 12 perioperative complications occurred for 9 patients, including 6 anastomotic leaks, 1 thoracic duct injury, 1 vocal cord paralysis, 1 pleural effusion, and 2 atrial fibrillations. Anastomotic stricture was observed in six patients. There were no perioperative deaths. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen yielded an average of 14 lymph nodes per patient (range, 7–27). During the mean follow-up period of 22 ± 8 months, 2 patients died, 2 were lost to follow-up evaluation, 3 had recurrence, and 11 were disease free. Conclusion The current study shows that RATE, with its decreased blood loss, minimal cardiopulmonary complications, and no hospital mortality, represents a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma.