Minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy: lessons learned

Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy has the potential to minimize the morbidity of esophageal resection and is particularly suited to the transhiatal approach. This report details our experience with this technique and the lessons we have learned. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy was performed. Parameters assessed included patient demographics, tumor pathology, operative and postoperative course, and survival. Results Eighteen patients underwent minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy [median age = 69 years (range = 36–79)]. Seventeen were operated on for cancer, including 13 adenocarcinomas and 4 squamous cell carcinomas (median histological stage = 2, range = 1–3), and 1 for high-grade dysplasia in Barrett’s. One patient had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients underwent nonemergency conversion to open surgery. The median duration of operation was 300 min (range = 180–450). All anastomoses were end-to-side hand-sewn. No patients received a red cell transfusion. The 30-day mortality was zero. Complications developed in 15 patients, including 7 respiratory and 10 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries. There were two anastomotic leaks. Six patients developed stenosis requiring dilatation. The median length of stay was 15 days (range = 10–39). The median number of nodes harvested was 10 (range = 2–26). At a median follow-up of 13 months (range = 4–42), 13 patients were alive. Conclusions Minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy is feasible in our unit, with acceptable mortality. The high rate of anastomotic stenosis has resulted in a change to a semimechanical, side-to-side isoperistaltic technique. The high rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries has resulted in the avoidance of metal retractors at the tracheo-esophageal groove.     

Minimally invasive esophagectomy in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, older patients are being referred for esophagectomy, and the associated morbidity and mortality is not well defined. Advances in minimally invasive techniques now allow minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) to be performed that may minimize the morbidity of this procedure. The objective of this report was to summarize our experience with MIE in the elderly. METHODS: From February 1997 through February 2001, 41 patients (14 women, 27 men) 75 years of age or older (mean age 78, range 75 to 89) underwent esophagectomy (28 for adenocarcinoma, 7 squamous, 6 Barrett's with high-grade dysplasia). RESULTS: Esophagectomy was performed in a minimally invasive fashion in 41 patients. No open conversions were necessary. The median ICU stay was 1 day (range 1 to 34). The median hospital stay was 7 days (range 5 to 50). Major morbidity occurred in 19% of the cases and included 1 persistent air leak, 1 case of pneumonia with acute respiratory failure, 1 tracheal tear, 1 chylothorax, and 1 myocardial infarction. Three anastomotic leaks and 1 small bowel perforation occurred. All were recognized early and treated surgically. No perioperative mortalities took place. CONCLUSION: In our center, MIE was performed in elderly patients with an acceptable morbidity, low mortality, and reduced length of hospital stay compared with that in previous reports.     

Minimally invasive esophagectomy

Background We aimed to assess the outcomes including the effect on quality of life (QoL) of a group of patients having a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Methods Patients with esophageal cancer were offered MIE over a 22-month period. Data on outcomes were collected prospectively, including formal quality-of-assessments. Results There were 25 patients offered MIE. Two patients were converted to a laparotomy to improve the lymphadenectomy. There were no deaths. Respiratory problems (pneumonia, 28%) were the most common in the 64% of patients who had a complication. The median blood loss was 300 ml, time of surgery 330 min, and time to discharge 11 days. There was a decrease in the measured QoL both in general and specifically for the esophageal patients, taking 18–24 months to return to baseline. Conclusions MIE was performed with morbidity similar to other approaches. There were no clear benefits shown in this group of patients with respect to postoperative recovery or short- to medium-term QoL.     

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for caustic esophageal stricture in children

Esophageal stricture after lye ingestion in children is the most frequent indication for esophagectomy in children, but this operation entails significant risks for complications. With continuing advances in minimally invasive technology, complex procedures such as esophagectomy can be performed using small incisions, with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality. Experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy is limited and has involved thoracoscopic dissection with the addition of laparotomy for gastric mobilization. The authors report a case of intractable caustic esophageal stricture in a child treated by a totally minimally invasive esophagectomy through a combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach. In adult patients, this procedure has been associated with decreased hospital stay and more rapid return to normal activities, and we believe similar benefits will be obtained in children. Until further studies are done to show the advantage over the standard open technique, this procedure should be performed only in centers with experience in open esophageal surgery in children as well as by surgeons with advanced thoracoscopic and laparoscopic skills.     

微创食管癌切除术150例分析

目的：探讨微创食管癌切除术治疗食管癌的可行性及应用价值。方法回顾性分析我科2009年5月～2014年2月150例微创食管癌切除术（minimally invasive esophagectomy ,MIE）的资料,男87例,女63例,年龄（57．3±9．2）岁。胸上段食管癌35例,胸中段74例,胸下段41例。胸、腹腔镜联合30例,全胸腔镜＋腹部开放115例,胸部开放＋腹腔镜5例,均行食管胃左颈吻合术。结果150例手术均获成功,手术时间（352．2±95．3）min,术中估计失血量（223．2±190．5）ml,术后区域淋巴结清扫数量（30．5±6．2）枚,阳性转移率28．7％（43／150）。术后病理分期ⅠA期18例,ⅠB期35例,ⅡA期39例,ⅡB期24例,ⅢA期19例,ⅢB期15例。术后住院时间（12．8±3．7）d。无围手术期死亡,术后并发症发生率28．7％（43／150）,包括肺部感染11例（7．3％）,呼吸衰竭2例（1．3％）,乳糜胸2例（1．3％）,活动性出血二次手术1例（0．7％）,吻合口漏16例（10．7％）,声音嘶哑7例（4．7％）,气管损伤1例（0．7％）,胸胃排空障碍3例（2．0％）。结论 MIE手术治疗食管癌创伤小,恢复快,技术可行,手术安全合理,值得临床应用推广。     

Robotic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy

Background Despite its reduced aggressiveness and excellent results obtained in certain diseases, minimally invasive surgery did not manage to significantly lower the risks of esophageal resections. Further advances in technology led to the creation of robotic systems with their unique maneuverability of the instruments and exceptional view on the operative field, thus setting the prerequisites for performance in complex surgical procedures and offering new possibilities to a disease notorious for its dismal prognosis.Materials and methods The robotic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy technique was used in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower esophagus that had high medical risk for surgical therapy.Results Esophageal resection and reconstruction were possible through a robotic-assisted minimally invasive transhiatal approach. There were no intraoperative incidents, blood loss was minimal, and lymph node dissection and removal was possible during the procedure. Early ambulation and conservative treatment of the mild complications that occurred offered a favorable postoperative outcome.Conclusion The robotic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy technique is feasible and safe. Complex procedures become less technically demanding with the help of the robotic system and, thus, the minimally invasive approach can be offered for the benefit of selected patients. Further studies are required to confirm these observations and to establish the role of this procedure in the future.     

Cholecystectomy during esophagectomy is safe but unnecessary

Abstract

Background: Prophylactic cholecystectomy has been proposed as a concomitant procedure during upper gastrointestinal surgery. This study evaluates the safety and the need of concurrent cholecystectomy during esophagectomy for cancer.

Methods: All consecutive esophagectomies for esophageal cancer at the Center for Esophageal Diseases in Padova (Italy) between 1992 and 2011 were included. The safety of concurrent cholecystectomy was evaluated by surgical outcomes (length of stay, postoperative mortality and perioperative complications). The need for concurrent cholecystectomy was evaluated by occurrence of biliary duct stones and of cholelithiasis/cholecystitis after esophagectomy.

Results: Cholecystectomy was performed during 67 out of 1087 esophagectomies (6.2%). Cirrhosis or chronic liver disease was associated with receiving cholecystectomy during esophagectomy (OR: 1.99, 95%C.I. 1.10–3.56). Patients receiving and those not receiving cholecystectomy showed similar length of stay (median 14 days, p?=?.87), postoperative mortality (3.0% vs. 2.5%, p?=?.68), intraoperative complication (4.5% vs. 7.1%, p?=?.62), early complications (52.2% vs. 44.6%, p?=?.25) and late complications (20.9% vs. 24.8%, p?=?.56). Cholelithiasis/cholecystitis after esophagectomy occurred in 61 (6.1%) patients, with only four requiring cholecystectomy during follow-up. The biliary stone occurrence was nil. Only pathologic stage III-IV (OR: 2.17, 95%C.I. 1.19–3.96) was associated with cholelithiasis/cholecystitis after esophagectomy.

Conclusion: Routine prophylactic cholecystectomy during esophagectomy could be safe but unnecessary.     

Endoscopic evaluation of gastric conduit perfusion in minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

IntroductionLaser-assisted indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent dye angiography has been used in esophageal reconstructive surgery where it has been shown to significantly decrease the anastomotic leak rate. Recent advances in technology have made this possible in minimally invasive esophagectomy.Presentation of caseWe present a 69-year-old male with a cuT2N0M0 adenocarcinoma of the esophagus at the gastroesophageal junction who presented to our clinic after chemoradiation and underwent a minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. The perfusion of the gastric conduit was assessed intraoperatively using endoscopic ICG fluorescent imaging system. The anastomosis was created at the well-perfused site identified on the fluorescent imaging. The patient tolerated the procedure well, had an uneventful recovery going home on postoperative day 6 and tolerating a regular diet 2 weeks after the surgery.DiscussionCombination of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic evaluation of perfusion of gastric conduit provide improved outcomes for surgical treatment for patients with esophageal cancer.ConclusionThe gastric conduit during minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy can be evaluated using endoscopic ICG fluorescent imaging.     

Experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy

Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is an evolving surgical alternative to traditional open esophagectomy. Despite considerable technical challenges, it was hypothesized that MIE could be performed effectively by surgeons experienced in open esophageal resection and advanced laparoscopic surgery. The authors report their experience with 25 patients who underwent MIE for esophageal disease. Methods A multidisciplinary esophageal cancer team evaluated all the patients enrolled in this institutional review board–approved retrospective review study. Over an 18-month period, 25 consecutive patients (22 men and 3 women; mean age, 62 years; range, 48–77 years) with resectable esophageal cancer underwent MIE. Six patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The preoperative diagnoses were adenocarcinoma (64%, n = 16), high-grade dysplasia (20%, n = 5), and squamous cell cancer (16%, n = 4). The outcomes evaluated included operative course, hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, pathologic stage, morbidity, and mortality. Results Two patients required conversion to open esophagectomy. Operative mortality was 4% (n = 1). The mean operative time was 350 min (range, 300–480), and the average blood loss was 200 ml. The patients remained ventilated for a median of 12 h, and the median intensive care unit utilization was 1 day. The median hospital length of stay was 9 days (range, 6–33 days). Major complications occurred in 32% of the patients. The anastomotic leak rate was 12%. Minor pulmonary complications occurred in 32% and atrial fibrillation in 16% of the patients. An anastomotic stricture developed in 24% of all the patients. One patient showed a positive proximal margin in the final pathology results. Conclusions Minimally invasive esophagectomy is a technically challenging procedure that can be performed safely at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute. Optimal results require appropriate patient selection and a multidisciplinary team experienced in the management of esophageal cancer.     

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy in patients with previous endocrine surgery

Objective:

Previous endocrine neck surgery (PENS) in patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is considered a contraindication for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of MIP in such patients.

Methods:

From January 2004 to December 2009, 270 patients with PHP were treated in our department; 30 had had PENS in the past. Eighteen were selected to have MIP, while the other 12 had traditional neck explorations. Selection criteria for MIP were unilateral single- or double-gland disease localized preoperatively with at least 2 concordant imaging techniques and patient informed consent. Imaging studies included high-resolution neck ultrasound and sestamibi scan in most patients, and CT scan, selective venous sampling, and MRI in 7 patients. Unilateral explorations via a lateral approach with the patients under local (UALA in 13 patients), general (MIP in 4 patients), or local followed by general anesthesia (1 patient) were performed.

Results:

Sixteen of the 17 patients became normocalcemic after the operation. There was no conversion to traditional exploration. A single adenoma was found in 16 patients and hyperplasia in one. One patient underwent a successful parathyroidectomy 8 months later via mesothoracoscopy, because the parathyroid gland was localized correctly but was beyond access via neck. There were no postoperative complications. Mean duration of the procedure and length of stay were similar to MIP in patients without PENS. Mean follow-up of 33 months (range, 4 to 70) did not reveal any recurrence.

Conclusion:

These results illustrate that MIP is a valuable option in select patients with sporadic PHP and PENS. Localization with 2 or more concordant imaging techniques could avoid intraoperative sestamibi or qPTH testing with low morbidity (0%), high biochemical cure rate (100% in this series), rapid recovery, and finally substantially lower the cost of the procedure.     

微创食管切除术治疗食管癌的研究进展

食管癌是全世界8大常见恶性肿瘤之一,外科手术仍为最主要的治疗方案。传统开放食管切除术术后并发症发生率高,患者生活质量较差。为减少手术并发症、提高患者的生活质量,微创食管切除术逐渐被胸外科医师接受并应用于食管癌的治疗当中。目前,多数研究认为微创食管切除术是安全、可行的,同时术后并发症发生率等短期效果优于开放食管切除术,而总生存率等远期效果并不低于开放食管切除术。随着研究的不断细化深入,食管癌的精准微创治疗将得到进一步的发展和推广。     

颈部三角吻合术在微创食管切除术中的应用

目的：评价三角吻合术在微创食管切除、食管胃颈部吻合术中应用的安全性和有效性。方法回顾性分析2013年1月至2014年3月在复旦大学附属中山医院胸外科接受胸腹腔镜食管癌根治切除加食管胃颈部吻合术的137例患者的临床资料,其中三角吻合77例（三角吻合组）,管状吻合60例（管状吻合组）。结果三角吻合组和管状吻合组术中吻合时间分别为（18．0±3．9） min 和（17．0±2．9） min,差异无统计学意义（P＝0．099）;术后吻合口瘘发生率分别为3．9％（3/77）和10．0％（6/60）,差异无统计学差异（P＝0．152）;吻合口狭窄发生率分别为1．3％（1/77）和15．0％（9/60）,差异有统计学意义（P＝0．002）。两组患者在围手术期死亡率、心血管并发症、肺部并发症等方面的差异均无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论颈部三角吻合术是一种安全、有效的吻合方法,可以降低术后吻合口狭窄的发生。     

三切口食管癌根治术:胸腔镜与开放手术的回顾性研究

目的 比较胸腔镜和开胸三切口食管癌根治术的围手术期并发症及中期疗效.方法 回顾性分析2005年1月至2012年6月间复旦大学附属中山医院胸外科收治827例接受三切口食管癌根治术患者的临床资料,其中胸腔镜482例和常规开胸345例.比较两组的围手术期相关指标及中期生存情况.结果 与开胸组相比,胸腔镜手术组平均淋巴结清扫个数更多[(28.3±5.1)个对(27.4±5.6)个,P=0.017],术后住院时间短[(14.6±5.6)天对(16.9±9.3)天,P=0.000],再入ICU率低(5.6％对10.1％,P=0.014),围手术期病死率低(1.0％对3.2％,P=0.027),围手术期总体并发症少(37.6％对44.9％,P=0.033),呼吸系统并发症少(9.3％对13.9％,P=0.040).胸腔镜组术后1年、2年、3年生存率略优于开胸组,但组间差异均无统计学意义.结论 胸腔镜与开胸手术与三切口食管癌根治术相比,围手术期疗效优势比较明显,中期疗效的优势尚有待于进一步验证.     

机器人辅助微创食管切除术的学习曲线分析

近年来随着达芬奇机器人技术在国内外的兴起,其被应用作为食管癌根治术的微创手段,具有广阔前景的同时也对胸外科主刀医师的水平提出更高的挑战。目前关于达芬奇机器人系统用于食管癌根治术治疗的报道不多,对其学习曲线研究的报道更少。该文旨在通过对目前机器人辅助微创食管切除术(RAMIE)学习曲线相关的研究报道进行总结,探讨胸外科医师开展RAMIE的学习曲线特征,用以指导机器人手术的开展。     

微创食管癌切除术应注意的问题

食管癌居全球常见恶性肿瘤发病率的第8位,是一种严重威胁人类健康的消化系统肿瘤.开放食管切除和区域淋巴结清扫是治疗局限性食管癌的标准手术方式,但手术并发症发生率和病死率较高.与传统开放手术比较,微创食管癌切除术(MIE)具有出血量少,并发症发生率低,住院时间短等优势,而肿瘤切除、淋巴结清扫及术后病死率与开放手术相当.结合第三军医大学大坪医院野战外科研究所全军胸外科研究所的临床经验,展开讨论对MIE手术指征和禁忌证的把握,手术方式和径路的选择,手术体位的选择,术后并发症的预防,以及MIE的学习和掌握,以期有助于MIE的推广和普及.     

微创McKeown食管切除术治疗食管下段癌的临床价值

目的探讨微创McKeown食管切除术治疗下段食管癌的临床价值。方法选取2013-01-2017-06间在郑州大学第一附属医院接受食管切除术的下段食管癌患者。将行微创McKeown手术的患者作为微创组,将行开放Sweet手术的患者作为开放组,倾向得分匹配(PSM)用于降低2组一般资料的统计学差异。比较2组患者的疗效。结果全部患者均顺利完成手术。2组患者的病死率、肺部并发症和吻合口漏发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。微创组淋巴结清扫数、平均住院费用和手术时间均多于开放组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论微创McKeown食管切除术治疗下段食管癌,较传统开放手术淋巴结清扫数多,但手术时间和治疗费用较多。