Giant circumferential esophageal leiomyoma successfully treated by thoracoscopic enucleation with the patient in a prone position: A case report

Esophageal leiomyomas are common benign tumors. Although surgical resection is warranted in symptomatic patients, the procedure used to enucleate a giant, circumferential tumor is complicated. A 38-year-old man was referred to our institution with a diagnosis of submucosal esophageal tumor. An endoscopic examination revealed a protruding submucosal mass in the lower third of the esophagus. Computed tomography scans demonstrated a circumferential mass measuring 90 × 40 mm. Examination of the biopsy specimens resulted in a diagnosis of leiomyoma of the esophagus, and thoracoscopic enucleation of the tumor via the right thorax with the patient in the prone position was planned. Histopathological and immunohistochemical staining of the surgical specimen confirmed the preoperative diagnosis of benign leiomyoma. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7 without any complications.     

Minimally invasive hybrid surgery: A salvage tumor enucleation for local recurrence of thoracic esophageal carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy

Local recurrence after definitive chemoradiation for esophageal carcinoma is associated with poor outcomes. Although salvage esophagectomy is a standard treatment that offers a chance of long-term survival, the procedure is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive hybrid surgery (MIHS) employs thoracoscopic and esophagoscopic procedures and is generally used to treat benign esophageal submucosal tumors. A 64-year-old man with thoracic esophageal carcinoma experienced local relapse after definitive chemoradiation. He underwent MIHS and was discharged 18 days after surgery with a slight degree of stricture. Pathological findings revealed squamous cell carcinoma with no residual tumor in the resection margins, and the patient remains free from cancer relapse 24 months after surgery. Here, we report the findings in this patient, in whom MIHS was successfully performed as a salvage tumor enucleation for local recurrence of esophageal carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy.     

Modified thoracoscopic versus minimally invasive oesophagectomy in curative resection of oesophageal cancer

Conventional thoracoscopic oesophagectomy is time-consuming and requires sophisticated endoscopic skills. To reduce these problems we have modified the operating procedure, first by anastomosis of the oesophagus with the tubular stomach pulled up via the retrosternal route, followed by thoracoscopic oesophagectomy (modified thoracoscopic oesophagectomy). Outcomes were compared between the modified procedure and minimally invasive oesophagectomy. There were no significant differences in general preoperative clinical characteristics between the two patient groups. The modified thoracoscopic oesophagectomy group had significantly lower hospitalization expenses, significantly shorter operation times and significantly more lymph nodes removed compared with the minimally invasive oesophagectomy group, but there were no significant group differences in lengths of hospital and intensive care unit stays, morbidity and mortality. These results indicate that modified thoracoscopic oesophagectomy is feasible, simplifies operating procedures and reduces hospitalization expenses with acceptable morbidity.     

Transmediastinal approach for esophageal cancer: A new trend toward radical surgery

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common histology of esophageal cancer in Japan and Asia, shows extensive mediastinal spread from an early stage. Therefore, transthoracic esophagectomy with extensive mediastinal lymphadenectomy, including in the upper mediastinum along the recurrent laryngeal nerves, is the gold standard of radical surgery for ESCC. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy has now become a standard option for ESCC. However, transhiatal esophagectomy is regarded as less invasive because it avoids thoracotomy. Yet, it is also considered less curative because it offers a limited surgical view and insufficient mediastinal lymphadenectomy even when conventional specialized mediastinoscopy is used. Recent clinical studies on radical esophagectomy without thoracotomy for ESCC have been reported from Japan. The introduction of novel minimally invasive techniques for the transcervical or transhiatal approach, such as single‐port or robotic surgical devices, have enabled transmediastinal radical esophagectomy for ESCC. This review focuses on the transmediastinal approach for esophageal cancer surgery, which employs minimally invasive techniques to reduce morbidity, and its application to radical surgery for ESCC.     

The hybrid procedure of thoracoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic resection of an esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report

Esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (E-GIST) are very rare tumors, and there is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical approach for E-GISTs. Here, we report a case of a large E-GIST that was resected via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). When examining for comorbidities of myasthenia gravis using computed tomography, a 7-cm-sized tumor was detected in the lower esophagus of a 68-year-old woman. Further examination revealed the tumor to be an E-GIST with high malignant potential, and thus, esophagectomy was performed. The hybrid procedure for VATS and HALS techniques was safe and minimally invasive for this E-GIST that required esophagectomy. Thus, esophagectomy with VATS and HALS is thought to be a reasonable surgical option for resecting large E-GISTs, for which enucleation is not recommended.     

Successful minimally invasive two‐stage operation for rare synchronous cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head: A case report

We report the case of a 70‐year‐old woman with synchronous advanced esophageal cancer and pancreatic head cancer. To reduce the surgical invasiveness, we performed a two‐stage operation that included percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and minimally invasive esophagectomy. In the first stage, we performed a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, a thoracoscopic esophagectomy with cervical and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and an esophagostomy without a laparotomy. The second stage, which was performed 28 days after the first operation, consisted of a total gastrectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, colonic reconstruction, and jejunostomy. Fifty days after the second operation, the patient was discharged from the hospital. A two‐stage operation that includes minimally invasive esophagectomy seems to be useful for avoiding serious postoperative complications, even in patients with rare, synchronous advanced cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head.     

Minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with esophageal diverticulum: A case report

Controversy remains regarding the optimal resection approach for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Furthermore, an esophageal diverticulum, although rare, can complicate surgical procedures. Herein, we report a case of EGJ adenocarcinoma with an esophageal diverticulum that was treated using the minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach (MALTA). A 72‐year‐old man, with EGJ adenocarcinoma and an epiphrenic diverticulum on esophagogastroduodenoscopy underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen revealed invasion to the lymphatic vessels. Therefore, laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and thoracoscopic lower esophagectomy with D1 lymph node dissection and double‐tract reconstruction of the esophageal diverticulum were performed via MALTA. The patient was discharged without any postoperative morbidity. MALTA provides good visualization for the transection of the lower esophagus in cases of esophageal diverticulum. Moreover, MALTA for adenocarcinoma of the EGJ is technically feasible, even with the presence of a lower esophageal diverticulum.     

胸腔镜手术治疗食管平滑肌瘤的研究

１９９６年７月～１９９７年８月，经胸腔镜共进行食管平滑肌瘤切除术５例，其中３例经标准ＶＡＴＳ手术切除，２例因肿物直径小于１ｃｍ，术中难以定位而采用经胸腔镜辅助加小切口切除，手术效果满意，无死亡及严重并发症发生，与传统开胸相比，ＶＡＴＳ有创伤小、痛苦轻、进食早、恢复快、住院时间短、费用经济、符合美容要求等明显优点，高龄、心肺功能不全而不能耐受开胸手术的患者更适合选用该项技术，且手术操作简单，易掌握，经经验积累，完全可以替代开胸手术。     

经腹手助胸腔镜术式在高龄病人食管癌手术中的应用

目的探讨经腹膈肌径路手助胸腔镜手术方式（HVATS）在高龄病人食管癌根治术中的临床应用价值及其优势。方法麻醉采用双腔气管插管全身麻醉，手术通过上腹切口游离胃，应用胸腔镜技术，结合单手（左手）经膈肌切口径路（膈肌中路）进入右胸腔辅助操作，游离全胸段食管，清扫纵隔淋巴结，经右颈部胸锁乳突肌内缘切口行食管胃吻合。结果完成食管癌切除根治手术共18例，其中70岁以上食管癌患者占10例。全组均在HVATS下顺利完成了手术治疗，食管癌彻底切除，食管旁、贲门旁、胃左动脉周围及肺门、隆突下等处淋巴结完全清扫。结论应用经腹膈肌径路HVATS技术行食管癌根治术符合食管癌外科治疗原则。该方法缩短了手术时间，简化了手术操作程序，提高了手术安全性，拓宽了手术适应证，为老年食管癌患者的微创外科治疗手段提供了一种新的选择，具有极大的临床应用价值。     

胸腔镜手术与开胸手术在胸段食管癌患者淋巴结清扫中的对比

目的探讨胸腔镜手术与开胸手术下胸段食管癌患者的淋巴结清扫状况。方法选取2012年8月-2015年6月在该院接受胸腔镜手术治疗的胸段食管癌患者16例(微创组),选取同期经传统开胸手术的相同病理分期的胸段食管癌患者17例(传统组),比较两组患者清扫淋巴结数、阳性率及淋巴结转移情况。结果微创组16例,清扫淋巴结总数228枚,均数(14.27±5.61)枚,阳性率为12.50%;传统组17例,清扫淋巴结总数241枚,均数(16.20±6.24)枚,阳性率为11.76%。两组不同病理分期患者淋巴结清扫数差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。微创组转移淋巴结例数7例,转移淋巴结45枚,转移率为43.75%,转移度为19.74%;传统组转移淋巴结例数8例,转移淋巴结55枚,转移率为47.06%,转移度为22.82%。结论微创手术能够取得与传统开胸手术一致的淋巴结清扫效果,在胸段食管癌的临床治疗方面具有较高可操作性。     

胸骨抬举法辅助经剑突下胸腔镜微创手术治疗胸腺病变的初步尝试

目的:探讨胸骨抬举法辅助经剑突下胸腔镜微创手术治疗胸腺病变的临床疗效。方法:2016年3月至2016年7月对连续24例胸腺病变患者采用经剑突下胸腔镜微创切除术,其中后12例加用术中胸骨抬举法辅助(研究组)。比较两组患者围手术期相关临床指标。结果:研究组患者手术时间少于对照组[(80.3±14.9)min vs(96.2±17.3)min],差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。两组患者在出血量、中转开胸率、并发症、术后住院时间和术后疼痛评分方面差异无统计学意义。结论:胸骨抬举法辅助经剑突下胸腔镜治疗胸腺疾病简便经济、安全可靠、疗效满意,值得临床推广。     

微创外科双极射频消融术治疗单纯性心房颤动

目的总结微创外科双极射频消融术治疗单纯性心房颤动的临床经验。方法 2010年11月对1例单纯性心房颤动患者施行电视胸腔镜下心表双侧肺静脉隔离及左心耳切除术。结果手术过程顺利,即刻恢复窦性心律。术后随访半年,维持窦性心律,无中风及其他并发症发生。结论电视胸腔镜下双极射频消融术治疗单纯性心房颤动具有微创、简单、安全、高效的特点,近期效果良好,其远期效果尚需长期随访及大宗病例观察。     

胸腔镜下胸部交感神经切断术治疗手掌多汗症

胸腔镜下胸部交感神经切断术治疗手掌多汗症１２８例，其手术创伤小，手术方法简单、安全、手术时间短、术后恢复快，疗效可靠。本方法作为微外科术式对手掌多汗症病人而言是值得提倡的。     

Laparoscopic myotomy: technique and efficacy in treating achalasia

Esophageal Heller myotomy and a partial antireflux procedure for achalasia are the ideal procedures to benefit from the advances in minimally invasive surgery. The magnified view of the operative field provided by the laparoscope allows precise division of the esophageal muscle fibers with excellent results. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy results in reduced postoperative pain, less morbidity, shorter hospitalization, better resolution of dysphagia, and less postoperative heartburn when compared with the open abdominal and even the thoracoscopic approach. A longer myotomy especially at the distal end, and a loose, well-formed partial fundoplication are the keys to a successful outcome. Superior long-term results after surgical myotomy when compared with nonsurgical interventions argue strongly in favor of surgery in any patient who is fit enough to undergo general anesthesia.     

超声微探头在食管小平滑肌瘤黏膜切除术中的价值研究

目的 探讨超声微探头（ultrasonic miniature probe,UMP）在食管小平滑肌瘤黏膜切除术（endoscopic mucosal resection,EMR）中的价值.方法 经EUS确诊11例来源于黏膜肌层的食管小平滑肌瘤,并行EMR切除肿瘤.结果 11例食管小平滑肌瘤经EMR完整切除.所有病例术前EUS诊断和术后病理诊断完全一致.未发生出血、穿孔和感染等并发症.结论 来源于黏膜肌层的食管小平滑肌瘤的超声内镜特征为来源于第二层的内部回声均匀、边界清晰的小低回声团块.UMP可以提供食管平滑肌瘤准确的层次结构图象,并对是否适合内镜治疗进行评估.     

食管悬吊法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结在微创食管手术中的回顾性研究

目的:分析微创食管癌手术中食管悬吊法对左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫情况、手术时间和相关并发症的影响。方法:回顾分析2015年1月-12月复旦大学附属中山医院微创手术治疗的145例食管癌患者的临床资料,其中71例术中用食管悬吊法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结,另74例术中用常规方法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结。结果:与常规方法组相比,食管悬吊组的左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫数量显著增加[(2.55±0.20)枚vs(1.46±0.22)枚,P<0.05],手术时间[(262.60±6.44)min vs(265.60±6.17)min]和左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫时间[(9.90±0.34)min vs(9.60±0.36)min]无明显差异,喉返神经不可逆损伤、胸导管损伤等并发症无明显差异。结论:微创食管癌根治术中采用食管悬吊法可更彻底地清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结,且不增加手术时间和围手术期并发症。     

A minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach as a palliative treatment for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction with severe stenosis: A case report

We report a novel technique for combined laparoscopy and thoracoscopy for far‐advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG). A 56‐year‐old man presented with far‐advanced AEG, and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a type 2 lesion that encircled the esophagogastric junction. CT revealed stenosis of the esophagogastric junction, suspected invasion into the left side of the diaphragm, and lymph node metastases in the abdomen. We diagnosed Siewert type II AEG (cT4aN1M0, cStage IIIA) according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma, version 14. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic proximal gastrectomy and lower esophagectomy with double‐tract reconstruction were performed as a palliative resection via a minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach. However, localized peritoneal dissemination was detected. The patient was discharged with no postoperative morbidity. Hence, a minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach provides good visualization, and it is safe for lower esophageal transection and intrathoracic anastomosis in the treatment of locally advanced AEG invading the surrounding tissues.     

Video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position in an esophageal cancer patient with pectus excavatum

During thoracic cavity operations, it is difficult to obtain sufficient working space and good operative field visibility in patients with pectus excavatum because the space between the vertebral bodies and sternum is very narrow. Here, we report the successful treatment of esophageal cancer in a patient with pectus excavatum. A 77‐year‐old man with esophageal cancer was referred to our hospital for further treatment. He was diagnosed with multiple early esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. The patient had pectus excavatum, but because it was asymptomatic, a video‐assisted thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position without pectus excavatum repair was selected. Despite the patient's unusual anatomy, video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left decubitus position allowed for good operative field visibility, as the videoscope was inserted from the side of the diaphragm. This operative procedure is useful in patients with esophageal cancer who also have pectus excavatum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of video‐assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in an esophageal cancer patient with pectus excavatum.     

电视胸腔镜下小切口食管下段、贲门癌手术

目的 总结15例电视胸腔镜下小切口完成食管下段及贲门癌手术的治疗经验和体会。方法 全组病例均采用全麻双腔气管插管,电视胸腔镜下左胸6cm 小切口完成食管下段及肿块的游离,上腹旁正中约10cm 的切口完成胃大小弯及贲门肿块的游离和切除,残胃与食管在胸内完成吻合。结果 好转14例,1例死于术后并发症。结论 电视胸腔镜下小切口完成食管下段及贲门癌切除的术式,具有创伤小,恢复快,易操作等优点。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy-splanchnicectomy for pancreatic cancer pain

Patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer often suffer severe pain. Various techniques are available for pain control. We present a patient with pancreatic cancer who underwent unilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy-splanchnicectomy and had complete pain relief. This minimally invasive procedure offers promise in carefully selected patients with severe pain from pancreatic cancer and other conditions which are not amenable to conventional interventions.