Background
Appropriate use of minimally invasive surgery for patients with cancer is essential. Thoracoscopically assisted en bloc esophagectomy affects early perioperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, pain management, and quality-of-life issues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of combined thoracoscopic, abdominal, and cervical esophagectomy for the treatment of malignant esophageal tumors.
Patients and methods
The current prospective study included 23 patients with stages I and II esophageal carcinoma who were eligible for thoracoscopically assisted en bloc esophagectomy. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were reported along with pathological safety.
Results
The mean age of the included patients was 62 ± 5.05 years. The surgical outcome showed intraoperative complications like arrhythmia in 13% of patients and bronchial injury in 4.3% and postoperative gastroesophageal fistula in 13% of patients, whereas pulmonary complications were reported in 17.2% of patients. The pathological outcome showed free longitudinal safety margin, with mean positive lymph nodes of 6.1 ± 4.48 out of 17.2 ± 5.9 lymph nodes.
Conclusion
Thoracoscopic esophagectomy is technically feasible and safe, with low morbidity and shorter hospital stay compared with open procedure. It has the potential to replace open esophagectomy in selected patients.